


c^ 






^r/,J/- 



rV h V>fe 



£ a/t tj i ty/i I *=/y<a . 



UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 



*af 



m 



THE LIFE 



OF THE 



tteb. John mtlltum jfltttlitv, 

VICAR OF MADELEY: 



BY THE 



REV. ROBERT COX, A.M. 



FIRST AMERICAN EDITION : 



WITH 



AN INTRODUCTION, AND A SELECTION FROM THE CORRES- 
PONDENCE OF MR. FLETCHER: 

BY 

THE REV. GEORGE A. SMITH, M. A. 



" No age or country has ever produced a man of more fervent piety, or 
more perfect charity ; no church has ever possessed a more apostolic minis- 
ter."— Southey. 

"Fletcher was a man of heavenly temper; a saint, in the ancient and 
high sense of the terra ; whose enthusiasm was entirely unmixed with bitter- 
ness, and whose life and death were alike edifying." — Quarterly Review. 



PHILADELPHIA: 

GEORGE & BYINGTON, N. W. CORNER OF CHESTNUT AND 

FIFTH STREETS. 

WILLIAM STAVELY, 12 PEAR STREET. 



18 3 7 



' 5 






Entered according to the Act of Congress, in the year 1836, by William 
Stavely, in the Office of the Clerk of the District Court of the Eastern 
District of Pennsylvania. 



£SfS 



J 



CONTENTS. 



PAGE 

Introduction, - - - - . - v — xxvii 



Chapter L 
His Family — Education — Events of his youth, - - 1 — 11 

Chapter II. 

His Conversion — Ordination — Interview with Mr. Berridge 
—Religious Correspondence — Settlement at Madeley, in 
Shropshire, ,----. 12—34 

Chapter III. 
His Manner of Preaching — Ministerial Labours — Benevo- 
lence and Self-denial — Devotional Spirit, - - 35 — 60 

Chapter IV. 
His Sermon against Popery — Tour on the Continent — Visit 
to the Huguenots in the South of France — To Italy — Re- 
ception at Nyon. .*---.. 61 — 76 

Chapter V. 
College at Trevecca — Polemical Writings, - - 77—85 

Chapter VI. 

Phenomenon at the Birches — Mr. Fletcher's Disinterested- 
ness — His Bad State of Health — Visit to Messrs. Berridge 
and Venn — Acquaintance with Mr. Perronet — Mr. Flet- 
cher in Conversation — His Pacific Disposition, - 86 — 102 



IV CONTENTS. 

Chapter VII. 

Visit to the Continent of Europe — State of Religion in 
France— Residence at Nyon— The " Portrait of St. Paul," 
and other pieces written — Intercourse with his Relations — 
Deaths of Voltaire, Rousseau, and Haller — Return from 
Switzerland, ------ 103—132 

Chapter VIII. 
His Marriage — Characteristic Anecdotes — Visit to Ireland, 133 — 157 

Chapter IX. 
His last Illness — Last Service in his Church — Affecting 

Scene at the Communion Table — Death — Character, * 158 — 174 



Correspondence of Mr. Fletcher with various individuals, 
from the year 1756 to 1784, - 177—240 



INTRODUCTION. 

The excellence of the christian religion is most effec- 
tually displayed in the examples of individuals, whose 
characters it has formed, and whose lives it has directed. 
Such, happily, do appear in every age of the church, 
and among them some who shine with peculiar lustre. 
These, to some extent at least, it is the duty and hap- 
piness of every faithful christian to contemplate. 
While he looks upon them, the brightness of the cha- 
racter which he admires, is often reflected upon him- 
self. The best feelings of his heart glow with a sym- 
pathetic influence, his principles acquire strength, and 
his purposes steadfastness, as he beholds "the beauty 
of holiness" in its living exemplification. The luke- 
warm, too, are often rebuked and affected by the con- 
trast to their own unworthiness, while the unconverted 
learn that there is a reality in all the promises of reli- 
gion, which they may experience, if they will but 
yield themselves to its power. 

Among the excellent men of modern times, there is 
probably none in whose praise there is so general a 
concurrence as in that of Fletcher. Upon some points 
of religious truth he differed from many whom he 



VI INTRODUCTION. 

loved, and such differences of opinion will doubtless be 
coeval with the imperfection of human intellect and 
character. But it is delightful to see that their exist- 
ence is admitted not to be incompatible, in the view of 
either party, with a bright and consistent display of 
christian character. The estimation in which Fletcher 
has been held by Calvinists and Arminians, is a strik- 
ing exemplification of this remark. Another is to be 
found in an incident related by the Rev. Charles Si- 
meon, which shows so strikingly the effect which may 
be expected from the study of such a character as that 
of Fletcher among Arminians, or of a similar one 
among Calvinists, that no apology is deemed necessary 
for its introduction. It is quoted from the preface 
to Mr. Simeon's " Skeletons," in which the excel- 
lent author is said to speak of himself, as the " young 
minister" who held the conversation with Mr. Wes- 
ley. 

"A young minister, about three or four years after 
he was ordained, had an opportunity of conversing 
familiarly with the great and venerable leader of the 
Arminians in this kingdom, and wishing to improve 
the occasion to the uttermost, he addressed him nearly 
in the following words: — 'Sir, I understand that you 
are called an Arminian, I have been sometimes called 
a Calvinist, and therefore I suppose we are to draw 
daggers; but before I consent to begin the combat, 
with your permission, I will ask you a few questions, 
not from impertinent curiosity, but for real instruc- 
tion.' Permission being very readily and kindly 
granted, the young minister proceeded to ask, 'Pray, 



INTRODUCTION. Vll 

Sir, do you feel yourself a depraved creature, so de- 
praved that you would never have thought of turning 
to God, if God had not first put it into your heart?' 
< Yes,' says the veteran, * I do indeed.' ' And do you 
utterly despair of recommending yourself to God by 
anything that you can do, and look for salvation solely 
through the blood and righteousness of Christ?' < Yes, 
solely through Christ.' 'But, Sir, suppose you were 
at first saved by Christ, are you not somehow or other 
to save yourself afterwards by your own works?' 
c No ; I must be saved by Christ from first to last.' 
i Allowing then that you have first turned by the grace 
of God, are you not now, in some way or other, to 
help yourself by your own power?' — 'No.' 'What, 
then, are you to be upheld every hour and every mo- 
ment by God, as much as an infant in its mother's 
arms?' i Yes, altogether.' c And is all your hope in 
the grace and mercy of God, to preserve you unto his 
heavenly kingdom?' ' Yes, I have no hope but in 
him.' y Then, Sir, with your leave, I will put up my 
dagger again, for this is all my Calvinism ; this is my 
election — my justification by faith — my final persever- 
ance: it is in substance all that I hold, and as I hold it; 
and therefore, if you please, instead of searching out 
terms and phrases to be a ground of contention between 
us, we will cordially unite in those things wherein we 
agree.' 

" The Arminian leader was so pleased with the con- 
versation, that he made particular mention of it in his 
journals, and notwithstanding there never afterwards 
was any connexion between the parties, he retained an 



Vlll INTRODUCTION. 

unfeigned regard for his young inquirer to the hour of 
his death." 

Mr. Wesley was a most intimate and beloved friend 
of Fletcher, and wrote an account of his life, which 
thus concludes: — - 

"I was intimately acquainted with him for thirty 
years. I conversed with him morning, noon and night, 
without the least reserve, during a journey of many 
hundred miles. And in all that time I never heard 
him speak an improper word, or saw him do an im- 
proper action. To conclude. Within fourscore years 
I have known many excellent men, holy in heart and 
life. But one equal to him I have not known; one so 
uniformly and deeply devoted to God. So unblame- 
able a man in every respect, I have not found either in 
Europe or America. Nor do I expect to find another 
such on this side eternity." 

Mr. Wesley's estimate of Fletcher's character 
is beautifully illustrated by the motto of the book 
which has just been quoted, 

SEaUOR NON PASSIBUS .33 CUTIS** 

Many have undertaken to present a general view 
of the character of Fletcher, and perhaps no one 
with greater success than a writer in the Christian Ob- 
server for 1822. In a long article on the merits of 
Cox's life of Fleteher, there is to be found such a sketch, 
executed with so much judgment and ability, and pos- 
sessing such interest, that nothing more appropriate 

* I follow, with unequal steps. 



INTRODUCTION. IX 

could be presented in an introduction to the life of 
Fletcher. The writer, after detailing some of the in- 
cidents in his life, thus delineates the most striking fea- 
tures of his character.* 

" The most striking peculiarity of Mr. Fletcher's 
character was doubtless his "uniform and exalted 
piety; that devotional spirit which seems hardly ever 
to have abandoned him, and which threw a sort of un- 
earthly and angelic lustre over the whole current of 
his life. It made its appearance in childhood; was 
perhaps a little impaired during the first years of 
youth, but soon burst forth with new vigour, and con- 
tinued to burn with a bright and steady flame through- 
out the remainder of his days. One anecdote, men- 
tioned by Mr. Cox, I shall relate. ' One day, while 
quite a child, having displeased his father, he ran away 
from him to avoid correction, and endeavoured to con- 
ceal himself. But his conduct presently struck him 
with remorse. " What," said he, " do I run away from 
my father? Perhaps I shall live to have a son that 
will run away from me." ' This was a remark which, 
in a mere child, discovered a spirit of reflection and a 
sense of duty betokening no ordinary character in after 
life. The language of Dr. Price respecting him 
speaks a volume, when we consider the person from 
whose lips it came. He is said to have expressed ' his 
satisfaction at being introduced to the company of one 
whose air and countenance bespoke him fitted rather 

*Some of the remarks on the enthusiasm attributed to Fletcher have been 
omitted, from the belief that what is retained is entirely sufficient in rela- 
tion to this subject. 



X INTRODUCTION. 

for the society of angels, than for the conversation 
of men.' 

"Mr. Cox rightly attributes the unabated influence of 
his devotional spirit to ' the power which he so pre- 
eminently possessed, of living as in the presence of 
God, by habitual recollection.' It is not perhaps suf- 
ficiently considered how difficult of attainment is such 
a degree of piety among christians engaged in the or- 
dinary concerns of life. The faithful minister of the 
sanctuary has in this respect a manifest advantage over 
most of the laity, by the general bearing and tenden- 
cy of his studies and pursuits; though very few in- 
deed, even amongst this highly favoured class of indi- 
viduals, are found to approach the standard of Mr. 
Fletcher's spirituality of habit. In the case of chris- 
tians busied about their worldly occupations, such ar* 
attainment is still more difficult. The constitution of 
the human mind admits but of one train of ideas at 
the same time: consequently, wherever an elevated 
spirit of piety is maintained in the soul, it must be 
kept up, under the needful influences of Divine grace, 
by a frequent recurrence of the thoughts to God and 
religious considerations. This is indeed truly diffi- 
cult amidst the common occupations of life ; but it is 
not impracticable. There are examples to be found, 
rare examples indeed, of men who can carry a highly 
devotional spirit along with them, even into the count- 
ing house or the exchange, and who contrive to pre- 
serve a steady frame of cheerful piety in the transac- 
tion of their worldly affairs, without, at the same 
time, betraying any want of prudence, management, 
or dexterity. Their talent is truly enviable ; and their 



INTRODUCTION. XI 

happy art must have been taught them by a Divine In- 
structor; whose influences, however, for our encour- 
agement be it remembered, will not be withheld from 
any who humbly endeavour to copy their bright 
example, and to follow them as they follow Christ 
Jesus. 

''Again : the characteristic qualities of the mind and 
heart may perhaps be of such a nature as to afford 
some individuals an advantage over others, in the cul- 
tivation of this habitual piety. A feeling heart and a 
lively imagination give a certain impulse and deve- 
lopment to religious principle ; which impulse will 
be found less operative in a cold and calculating dispo- 
sition. Were it true that any of the fallen posterity 
of Adam are formed by nature to feel the steady in- 
fluence of piety, it might be said with apparent pro- 
priety, that Fletcher was one of these bright instances; 
yet even he, pre-eminent as were his christian graces, 
possessed an evil nature at war with the spirit of his 
mind, and which required the renewing and sanctify- 
ing influences of the Holy Spirit. Still we may per- 
haps allowably conjecture, that the soil, when once 
impregnated with the seed of divine grace, was aided, 
in some small degree, by the liveliness and elevation of 
his fancy, and the warm sensibility of his heart ; 
though, at the same time, it may be fairly replied, 
that these qualities were equally open to the influ- 
ence of the world and of sin ; so that, after all, the 
balance is more equal among christians of different 
tempers and habits, than at first sight appears. 

"I should be much concerned, if these observations, 
naturally suggested by the subject under review, 



Xll INTRODUCTION. 

should be construed into any apology for indifference 
with regard to the cultivation of a high tone of piety 
and devotion. Truly would I say, God forbid that 
this should be their effect. On the one hand, let the 
highly devotional Christian imitate the conduct of 
Fletcher, and of one far greater than Fletcher^ in being 
careful not to break the bruised reed, or to quench 
the smoking flax ; and let him manifest the influence 
of his charity, in not judging harshly of those sincere 
believers who fall short of his own attainments. And, 
on the other, let those weaker christians, who per- 
ceive in themselves a great want of the spirit of ha- 
bitual and constant piety, cease to think it an impossible 
acquisition, and be encouraged, by the example of such 
men as Fletcher, to seek after continual advances in 
the divine life. 

" Great humility in his intercourse with others was ano- 
ther striking peculiarity of this extraordinary person. 
Some amusing instances of this are produced by his 
biographers. He refused to visit the poor Protestants 
of the Cevennes on horseback, saying to his fellow 
traveller, who had objected to his pedestrian propen- 
sities, ' Shall I make a visit on horseback, and at ease, 
to those poor cottagers, whose fathers were hunted 
along yonder rocks, like partridges upon the moun- 
tains V At another time, his friend, the Rev. Mr. 
Gilpin, perceiving a funeral waiting at the church gate, 
took the surplice, and commenced the service; but he 
had hardly entered the desk, when Mr. Fletcher, who 
had been visiting a sick person, came into the church; 
and gently drawing away a lad, who was officiating in 
the absence of the clerk, took his place, and acted as 



INTRODUCTION". Xlll 

clerk to Mr. Gilpin. Nothing seemed hard, nothing 
wearisome, which tended to promote the good of his 
neighbours. Mrs. Fletcher was frequently grieved to 
call him out of his study two or three times in an 
hour; especially when she knew he was engaged in 
some important work. But on such occasions he 
would answer, with his usual piety, c Oh, never mind. 
It matters not what is the employment, if we are but 
ready to meet the will of God. It is conformity to 
his will alone that makes any employment excellent.' 
If he overtook a poor person on the road, with a bur- 
den too heavy for him, he would offer to bear a part 
of it, and would not easily take a denial. To a per- 
son unacquainted with the whole of his character, 
these instances might seem to border upon a voluntary 
and ostentatious humility. But I do not suspect him 
of having been, at any time, actuated by those mo- 
tives of ambition, which may sometimes have influ- 
enced the Franciscan Friar in his professions of po- 
verty, whether of purse or spirit. If there was one 
feature which predominated above another in Mr. 
Fletcher, it was simplicity. But, though the instances 
just mentioned do not impeach his sincerity of heart, 
they detract a little from the credit of his judgment, 
and are parts of his character savouring too much of 
needless singularity to be proposed as a model for imi- 
tation. There were, however, many circumstances 
in which his humility shone to more advantage. 

u It does not always happen that persons of a studious 
and devotional temper are distinguished for bodily ex- 
ertion and active usefulness. Some, who have been too 
much addicted to what is called mysticism in religion, 

2 



XIV INTRODUCTION. 

may be said to have wasted their days amidst the 
clouds of abstract contemplation, when they might 
have been more properly employed in discharging 
their duties upon the level of active life. We are in- 
formed by Burnet, that even the learned, argumenta- 
tive, and excellent Bishop Pearson, was more distin- 
guished for exertion in his study than in his diocese. 
I am not about to compare Fletcher with Bishop Pear- 
son in point of learning and judgment. Thelatter 
was far superior in these respects. But perhaps, in 
return, this good prelate might have been able to de- 
rive a useful lesson from Fletcher's unwearied assi- 
duity in his pastoral office, had he lived to witness 
it. Here he was i instant in season, and out of sea- 
son/ He may be said to have strictly followed the 
advice of St. Paul to Timothy, in * giving himself 
wholly' to his ministerial labours. 'In his daily 
walks through his parish,' says Mr. Cox, ' there was 
hardly an individual who escaped his notice; and he 
had for each a word in season, adapted to his charac- 
ter, circumstances, and capacity. Always in his work, 
he was never out of his way. Whole nights he waited on 
the humblest and most infectious sick. If he heard 
the knocker in the coldest winter night, his window 
was instantly opened; and when he understood either 
that some one was hurt in the pits, or that a neighbour 
was likely to die; no consideration was ever paid to 
the darkness of the night, or the severity of the 
weather; but this answer was uniformly given, "I 
will attend you immediately." ' He at last fell a sa- 
crifice to zeal in his public ministrations, when a little 
seasonable prudence would probably have lengthened 



INTRODUCTION. XV 

his life. But it is not given to any human being to 
possess wisdom at all times; and those great and dar- 
ing spirits, who have performed more in twenty years 
of exertion, than ordinary men do in fifty, have not 
unusually become the victims of an ardour utterly dis- 
proportionate to the short span of human existence. 
Their very conviction of its shortness has sometimes 
cut them off before the ordinary term of life, by 
stimulating them to a career of exertion beyond their 
strength. But, without any wish to detract from 
Fletcher's zeal, something must be attributed likewise 
to his physical powers. He is represented as a man 
of a constitution naturally vigorous, which, if it were 
injured, at one time, by an excess of night-study, was, 
on the other hand, improved by the most rigid tem- 
perance. The man, who, in his youth, more than 
once swam five miles at a stretch, must have been 
gifted with great muscular strength, and with a texture 
of animal fibre not easily disordered. 

" I come next to his disinterestedness. — This was a 
very striking feature of his character. When offered 
the living of Dunham, in Cheshire, which was worth 
about 400/. a year, he thanked his patron, and re- 
plied, ' Alas! sir, Dunham will not suit me: there is 
too much money, and too little labour.' He after- 
wards accepted Madeley, on the ground of its being a 
wider field of exertion, though without half the pay. 
On some of his tracts being shown to the King by the 
Chancellor, an offer of preferment was immediately 
made him: but he answered, with his characteristic 
simplicity, that * he wanted nothing but an increase of 
grace.' This reply will perhaps remind some of your 



XVI INTRODUCTION. 

readers of the anecdote of Pere Bernard ; a man who 
was constant in his unpaid attendance upon the un- 
fortunate persons of his time at Paris, who suffered by 
the hands of the executioner. He refused a rich ab- 
bey offered him by Cardinal Richelieu ; and when the 
Cardinal, upon another occasion, desired him to say 
what he could do for him, the father replied, ' All I 
want, my lord, is a better tumbril to conduct my pe- 
nitents to their place of suffering. 3 The tub of Di- 
ogenes was a poor and paltry subject of contentment, 
when compared with this benevolent ambition of the 
good Pere Bernard. 

" Several anecdotes are related in Mr. Cox's work, 
and the other memoirs of Mr. Fletcher, strongly ex- 
pressive of the pecuniary liberality of this excellent 
individual ; but it is not my object to trespass too much 
with details; and it will be easily believed, that a man 
who was benevolent and disinterested in so remarka- 
ble a degree, would not be wanting in alms-giving, or 
any other duty of christian charity, so far as he had 
the opportunity. Indeed he carried the practice of 
this virtue to an extremity of self-denial and personal 
privation, which reminds one more of the days when 
the disciples had all things in common, and no man 
called any thing his own, than of the ordinary dispo- 
sitions or allotments of modern christians. 

" His courage and intrepidity were very remarka- 
ble.— -There is an anecdote related by his biographers 
on this subject, so striking, that I cannot resist the 
temptation of presenting it to your readers. Mr. 
Fletcher had a very profligate nephew, a military 
man, who had been dismissed from the Sardinian 



INTRODUCTION. XV11 

service for base and ungentlemanly conduct. He had 
engaged in two or three duels, and dissipated his re- 
sources in a career of vice and extravagance. This 
desperate youth waited one day on his eldest uncle, 
General de Gons, and, presenting a loaded pistol, 
threatened to shoot him unless he would immediately 
advance him five hundred crowns. The general, 
though a brave man, well knew what a desperado he 
had to deal with, and gave a draft for the money, at 
the same time expostulating freely with him on his 
conduct. The young madman rode off triumphantly 
with his ill-gotten acquisition. In the evening, pass- 
ing the door of his younger uncle, Mr. Fletcher, he 
determined to call on him, and began with informing 
him what General de Gons had done: and as a proof, 
exhibited the draft under De Gons's own hand. Mr. 
Fletcher took the draft from his nephew, and looked 
at it with astonishment. Then, after some remarks, 
putting it into his pocket, said — ^ It strikes me, 
young man, that you have possessed yourself of this 
note by some indirect method; and in honesty I can- 
not return it, but with my brother's knowledge and 
approbation.' The nephew's pistol was immediately 
at his breast. ' My life,' replied Mr. Fletcher with 
perfect calmness, < is secure in the protection of an 
Almighty power; nor will he suffer it to be the forfeit 
of my integrity and of your rashness.' This firmness 
drew from the nephew the observation, that his uncle 
De Gons, though an old soldier, was more afraid of 
death than his brother. * Afraid of death!' rejoined 
Mr. Fletcher; < do you think I have been twenty-five 
years the minister of the Lord of life, to be afraid of 

2* 



XVlll INTRODUCTION. 

death now? No, sir: it is for you to fear death. You 
are a gamester and a cheat, yet call yourself a gen- 
tleman! You are the seducer of female innocence, 
and still say you are a gentleman! You are a duellist, 
and for this you style yourself a man of honour! Look 
there, sir; the broad eye of heaven is fixed upon us. 
Tremble in the presence of your Maker, who can in a 
moment kill your body, and for ever punish your soul 
in hell.' The unhappy man turned pale, and trembled 
alternately with fear and rage. He still threatened his 
uncle with instant death. Fletcher, though thus me- 
naced, gave no alarm, sought for no weapon, and at- 
tempted not to escape. He calmly conversed with his 
profligate relation, and, at length perceiving him to be 
affected, addressed him in language truly paternal, till 
he had fairly disarmed and subdued him. He would 
not return his brother's draft, but engaged to procure 
for the young man some immediate relief. He then 
prayed with him, and, after fulfilling his promise 
of assistance, parted with him, with much good ad- 
vice on one side, and many fair promises on the other. 
The power of courage, founded on piety and principle, 
together with its influence in overcoming the wildest 
and most desperate profligacy, were never more finely 
illustrated than by this anecdote. It deserves to be 
put into the hands of every self-styled < man of ho- 
nour,' to show him how far superior is the courage 
that dares to die, though it dares not sin, to the boast- 
ed prowess of a mere man of the world. How utterly 
contemptible does the desperation of a duellist appear, 
when contrasted with the noble intrepidity of such a 
christian soldier as the humble vicar of Madelev! 



INTRODUCTION. XIX 

" If Mr. Fletcher's reply to his nephew, as given by 
his biographers, be correct, it exhibits a specimen of 
indignant eloquence which was never, perhaps, sur- 
passed, and has not often been equalled. Here indeed 
was a dignus vindice nodus; an occasion worthy of 
the man. 

" Of Mr. Fletcher's force and vivacity in writing, 
many instances might be produced ; but for these I 
must refer the reader to his publications. It is, how- 
ever, but just to add, that some of his most spirited 
passages are by no means equally remarkable for ex- 
actness, power of discrimination, or refinement of taste. 
It should be remembered, in abatement of any literary 
defects, that he was writing in a language not his own; 
and, for a foreigner, his prompt command of our ver- 
nacular tongue is often surprising. 

" Mr. Fletcher was certainly not free from some tinc- 
ture of enthusiasm, properly so called. When quite 
a youth, his remonstrance with a widow lady who had 
been provoked, by the ill conduct of her profligate 
sons, to utter a sort of hasty imprecation against them, 
looks, perhaps, too much like the presumption of de- 
nouncing a judgment upon her for her impiety. Awful 
to relate, however, — though certainly not in conse- 
quence of Fletcher's prediction, — all her three sons 
shortly met with an untimely grave, and she called 
Fletcher, ever afterwards, her young prophet. Some 
part of his advice, in his correspondence with a young 
lady, may be styled injudicious, if not enthusiastic ; 
and his apparently unmixed approbation of the pro- 
ceedings of Mr. Wesley, and his itinerant preachers, 
strongly savours of the same spirit. His rapturous 



XX INTRODUCTION. 

and triumphant frame of mind, at the approach of 
death, is, however, by no means to be ascribed to this 
influence. Who shall presume to say to what extent 
God may sometimes be pleased to visit and cheer his 
faithful servants under such circumstances? And, if 
visions of glory be sometimes, then, vouchsafed to the 
departing saint, upon whom might we expect them to 
descend sooner than upon this devout person? 

"In truth, Fletcher displayed much less of what may 
be properly termed enthusiasm, than has been com- 
monly supposed. There is no single word in the Eng- 
lish vocabulary more frequently distorted from its true 
meaning than this. In ordinary discourse, we find it 
perpetually confounded with great zeal in the cause 
of religion; whereas the most fervent zeal has no ne- 
cessary or unavoidable connexion with enthusiasm, 
meaning by the term * a heated imagination,' though, 
in consequence of the frailty of human nature, even 
in the best of men, it may, in some instances, be com- 
bined with the last mentioned quality. Enthusiasm 
or fanaticism, (for this is now the favourite watchword 
of party spirit, as being perhaps the stronger and more 
sonorous expression of the two,) implies, when used in 
reference to religion, either something which tends to 
encourage the belief of false revelations and false 
miracles, or something at least which tends to dis- 
figure true religion, by unintentionally represent- 
ing it under the form of an absurd theory, or an 
impracticable attainment. Let Mr. Fletcher's con- 
duct be tried by these definitions, and he will be found 
to stand tolerably clear of the charge. And if some 
few parts of his conduct seem to look like real enthu- 



INTRODUCTION. XXI 

siasm, let him not be judged too harshly by those who 
are rescued from all danger in this respect, not by their 
superior piety, but by their cooler temperament. If 
they have less enthusiasm than Mr. Fletcher, let them 
ask themselves whether they have as much fervent and 
well-directed zeal. * * * * 

"If we are to judge of his general preaching hy some 
outlines of unwritten sermons which have been pre- 
served, he would appear to have been more highly 
gifted with the talent of invention than with that of 
selection and orderly arrangement. In the outline, 
for example, given by Mr. Cox, of a sermon on Luke 
xii. 20. there is no want of matter ; but the discourse 
is broken down into too many parts, and some of his 
divisions are trifling or improper. Perhaps his taste in 
preaching would have been more correct, had he de- 
voted more attention to the study of polite literature. 
This he totally neglected during the latter years of 
his life. He had an imagination eminently formed to 
feel the full force both of the pathetic and the sublime. 
But he was too much absorbed in the plain obvious du- 
ties of his great work, to find time or patience for stu- 
dying anything that tended only subordinately to pro- 
mote his paramount object Still his preaching, how- 
ever deficient in good taste, must have possessed the 
eloquence of nature and reality. One trait well de- 
serves to be recorded. In the midst, says his biographer, 
of a most animated description of the terrible day of 
the Lord, he suddenly paused; every feature of his 
expressive countenance was marked with painful feel- 
ing; and striking his forehead with the palm of his 
hand, he exclaimed, < Wretched man that I am! — Be- 



xxii INTRODUCTION. 

loved brethren, it often cuts me to the soul, as it does 
at this moment, to reflect, that while I have been en- 
deavouring by the force of truth, by the beauty of 
holiness, and even by the terrors of the Lord, to bring 
you to walk in the paths of righteousness, I am, with 
respect to many who reject the gospel, only tying mill- 
stones round your neck to sink you deeper in perdi- 
tion !' The whole church, it is added, was electri- 
fied; and it was some time before he could resume his 
subject. Massillon's celebrated apostrophe on the day 
of judgment, which produced such emotion in his 
courtly audience, was adapted for the cultivated meri- 
dian of Paris: Fletcher's interruption was admirably 
suited to strike the rude villagers of Madeley. Mas- 
sillon's was elaborate and sublime: Fletcher's was sim- 
ple and pathetic. It was an arrow that went directly 
to the heart. 

"His powers of conversation appear to have been 
very remarkable. There are two instances related, in 
which he combatted infidel, or at least skeptical oppo- 
nents, with such force of reasoning, such admirable 
restraint of temper, and such christian meekness, as 
produced a very considerable effect upon their minds. 
He had a clear and solid judgment, whenever he calm- 
ly exercised that faculty. 

"I can merely touch upon some minor excellencies of 
the character of this remarkable man. There was no- 
thing in his conduct savouring of violence or vulgarity. 
His family being nobly allied, and his education libe- 
ral, he retained a polish and urbanity, which, while it 
never interfered with the faithful discharge of his mi- 
nisterial duties, served to recommend him to persons 






INTRODUCTION. XXlll 

of rank and influence. Yet such was his indifference 
to worldly distinctions, that owing to a mistake which 
he had never been at the pains to rectify, his wife for 
some time believed him to have been the son of a com- 
mon soldier only, instead of a general officer. Even 
his eccentricities were respectable; and the circum- 
stance of his going round his parish at five o'clock on 
Sunday mornings, with a bell, to summon the idlers 
of his flock to prepare for church, though it may ex- 
cite a smile, can never seriously degrade him in the 
estimation of any liberal and reflecting mind. 

"Such was Mr. Fletcher, the Vicar of Madeley. He 
was, in many respects, a burning and a shining 
light; not, indeed, exempt from human frailty, but 
affording a memorable example of the power of genu- 
ine Christianity to purify, exalt, and ennoble the cha- 
racter of man. Let us, for a moment, imagine what 
such a person as Mr. Fletcher might have proved, 
without the influences of divine grace, and the tuition 
of the gospel of Christ. Probably he would have been 
still amiable, candid, benevolent, upright and enter- 
prising. He might have proved, in his humbler sphere 
of action, what an Antoninus Pius was, upon the seat 
of the Roman empire. But all his exertions would 
have been confined to the temporal benefit of his fel- 
low creatures ; and probably a conviction of the little 
he could perform for the alleviation of human misery, 
might in some degree have paralyzed his labours, and 
dried up the source of his philanthropy. But view 
him as a minister of Christ, impressed with a firm be- 
lief of the gospel, and with a deep sense of his own 
personal responsibility in delivering the message of 



XXIV INTRODUCTION. 

reconciliation to a careless and corrupt world, and how 
are all his natural qualifications for usefulness stimulat- 
ed and improved! He now finds an object worthy of 
the utmost ardour of his spirit. Inflamed with the 
love of God, and deeply touched with compassion for 
the souls of men, he possesses motives for exertion in- 
finitely superior to any with which he could be fur- 
nished by mere worldly considerations. When checked 
by occasional discouragements, he supports his cou- 
rage, prompts his perseverance, and keeps alive his 
activity, by a reference to the commands and promises 
of Scripture: and by dependence on the strength of 
an Almighty arm. In the meantime, he is not insen- 
sible to the great recompense of reward, and to the 
dreadful consequences of losing it. This obliges him 
to ' keep his heart with all diligence? and, in watch- 
ing over his own personal advancement in religion, he 
finds that he is promoting most effectually the spiritual 
good of others, and that his example adds tenfold 
weight to his instructions. 

"It is, perhaps, vain to hope for many such brilliant 
exhibitions of christian piety and holiness, until that 
period, when 6 the knowledge of the Lord shall cover 
the earth, as the w r aters cover the sea.' Providence, 
however, has graciously ordained that a few such 
' lights in the world' should arise in every age, for 
the purpose of showing what true religion is able 
to do for men, putting to shame the languid and luke- 
warm professor of Christianity, and rousing the sin- 
cere believer to greater vigilance and exertion. In- 
stances of this kind are patterns of good works; which 
ought to be preserved, like the great master-pieces in 



INTRODUCTION. XXV 

cabinets of art, as proper objects for the study of all 
who desire to grow in grace, and in the knowledge 
of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is true, there is but 
one who did no sin, and in whom every species of 
perfection is to be found. Let Him ever be the grand 
model for our imitation. But let us, at the same time, 
follow others, in proportion as they followed the Sa- 
viour, and learn to admire and copy his excellence as 
it appears reflected in those who have most adorned 
his doctrine, and extended farthest the boundaries of 
his kingdom." 

The writer to whom we are indebted for this able 
and Interesting view of the character of Fletcher, 
says, in a previous part of his essay, "lam not aware 
that Mr. Cox has added much to the stock of materials 
amassed by Mr. Benson, Mr. Gilpin, and other me- 
morialists of Mr. Fletcher. Indeed, his work is pro- 
fessedly a compilation ; so much so that he often incor- 
porates the words as well as the facts of his originals 
in his narrative, wherever they seemed proper to his 
purpose. Still his memoir is the best that has ap- 
peared" 

The Christian Observer for 1831, in an editorial no- 
tice of a sermon by our author, (the Rev. Robert Cox, 
M. A., Perpetual Curate of Storehouse,) says — "Mr. 
Cox's former publications, especially his lives of the 
Fathers, his memoir of Fletcher, and his pious and 
judicious Horae Romanae, will already have bespoken 
the favourable regards of our readers to the present dis- 
course." 

A memoir of such a man, so highly and justly re- 

3 



XXVI INTRODUCTION. 

commended, ought not to remain unknown to Ameri- 
can readers, especially as there is no other upon the 
same subject in general circulation. In presenting the 
present edition, there has been added a selection of the 
most interesting and valuable part of the correspond- 
ence of Fletcher, from his posthumous works edited 
by the Rev. Melville Home. These have been pub- 
lished in a single volume, of which the correspondence 
constitutes by far the larger part. A short treatise and 
some miscellaneous pieces make up the remainder. 
Some interesting particulars relative to the intercourse 
of Mr. Home (the eloquent and " trumpet-tongued" 
writer on missions,) with Mr. Fletcher, will be found 
in the following memoir, page 141. 

Of the letters now selected for publication some are 
partially quoted by Mr. Cox; but it is presumed that 
the reader will be gratified to have them complete. 
The circumstances in which the remainder and larger 
portion were written, will be seen by a comparison of 
their dates with the corresponding periods in the me- 
moir. The language of Mr. Home in reference to 
these letters of Mr. Fletcher, is adopted by the editor 
of the present edition of his life as expressive of his 
wishes and prayers for the influence of the whole pub- 
lication. 

"If the many friends who revere his memory, find 
edification and delight in perusing his apostolic letters; 
if any whose opposition of sentiment would not allow 
them to converse with him as a polemic divine, shall 
now receive him to their breasts as a christian brother; 
if any who have not reaped the rich harvest of his 



INTRODUCTION. XXV11 

former writings, are benefitted by the gleanings of the 
field; and if the world in general is made better ac- 
quainted with the virtues of this excellent man, all the 
ends proposed by their publication will be obtained, 
and the Editor will think himself justified in giving 
them to the press. 

"That the benediction of the Almighty may attend 
these last labours of his servant, that the reader may 
imbibe the spirit of the author, and that myself and 
all my fellow-labourers in the gospel, may emulate 
his faith and work in the Lord, is the earnest desire 

Of THE EDITOR,'" 



THE LIFE 

OF 

THE REV. J. W. FLETCHER 



CHAPTER I. 

FAMILY — EDUCATION EVENTS OF HIS YOUTH. 

" Among christian pastors," remarks the editor of a 
celebrated periodical work,* " who have adorned their 
profession by piety, fidelity, and zeal, there will be 
found no one, perhaps, whose history better deserves 
to be recorded than the late Mr. Fletcher, the far- 
famed Vicar of Madeley. His life, independently of 
those peculiarities of character, which render it an 
interesting exhibition to the philosophic observer of 
mankind, affords more variety than we usually meet 
with in the career of a minister of the gospel. And 
even the circumstance of his having been a foreigner, 
naturalized as it were upon English ground, attracts 
attention by its rarity; and adds something to the in- 



*The Christian Observer. The same work, in speaking of books calcu- 
lated for usefulness, says, u Among such works the life of the sainted Fletch- 
er, of Madeley, has recently been given to the readers of French literature." 
—Vol. xxviii. 123.— Am. Ed. 



2 LIFE OP FLETCHER. 

terest which the view of his talents, virtues, and at- 
tainments, is so well calculated to excite." 

Jean Guillaume De La Flechere, or, as he was 
generally designated in this his adopted country, John 
William Fletcher, was born in Switzerland, at Nyon, 
in the Pays de Vaud, in the year 1729. His father in 
the former part of his life had been an officer in the 
French service: on his marriage he retired from the 
army; but an early predilection for his profession in- 
duced him afterwards to accept of a colonelcy in the 
militia of his own country. Of this gentleman, who 
was a member of a respectable Bernese family, and a 
descendant of a noble house in Savoy, the subject of 
the following narrative was the youngest son. 

At a very early period he discovered an unusual 
quickness of apprehension, and vivacity of character, 
happily blended with a deep sense of the Majesty of 
God, and a constant fear of offending Him. One day, 
when quite a child, having displeased his father, he 
ran away from him to avoid correction, and endea- 
voured to conceal himself in the garden. But his 
conduct soon struck him with remorse. "What!" 
said he, "do I run away from my father? Perhaps 
I shall live to have a son who will run away from 
me!" The impression that was then made upon his 
mind was not obliterated for many years. 

Having quarrelled with one of his brothers when 
he was about seven years of age, he was reproved by 
a female servant, while she undressed him, and told 
of the punishment that awaited wicked children in 
another world. Her words deeply affected him. IC I 
am," thought he, "a wicked boy, and how do I know 



LIFE OF FLETCHER. 6 

but God may call me to account this night." He then 
rose from his bed, fell upon his knees before God, 
confessed his faults, and with deep contrition earnestly- 
prayed for his forgiveness. " And I think," said he, 
when many years after he related the circumstance to 
a friend, "that God did hear me that night, and that 
I felt a little of the peace which I have since been 
better acquainted with." 

An early reverence for the Scriptures happily pre- 
served him from many of the vices peculiar to youth. 
His conversation was modest, and his whole conduct 
was marked by a degree of rectitude rarely found in 
persons of his age. He manifested also an extraordi- 
nary love for religious meditation; and those little pro- 
ductions which gained him the greatest applause at 
this period were chiefly of a serious tendency. As he 
grew up, his obedience as a son, and his affection as a 
brother, were exemplary; nor is it remembered that 
he ever uttered an unbecoming expression in either 
of those characters, unless indeed the following cir- 
cumstance should be considered as involving an ex- 
ception. His mother having on some occasion ex- 
pressed herself too warmly to one of the family, he 
uttered a gentle reproof. Indignant at the reprehen- 
sion, ^he instantly repaid it with some severity: but 
her displeasure was as suddenly converted into admi- 
ration, upon his replying, with a look of the tender- 
est affection, — "When I am smitten on one cheek, 
and especially by a hand I love so well, I am taught 
to turn the other also." 

Having passed the early part of his boyhood at 
Nyon, young Fletcher was sent with his two brothers 



4 LIFE OF FLETCHER. 

to the celebrated college at Geneva, where he was 
soon distinguished by the superiority of his "talents, 
and the intensity of his application. The first two 
prizes for which he was a candidate he gained with 
much applause, though he had many competitors, 
some of whom were nearly related to the professors. 
So occupied was he with his literary pursuits that he 
scarcely allowed himself time for recreation or rest, 
not unfrequently spending the greater part of the night 
in digesting the studies of the preceding day. It was 
here that he acquired that classical taste which gave 
both dignity and refinement to his simple manners in 
after life, as well as laid the foundation of that philo- 
sophical and theological knowledge for which he was 
so justly distinguished. 

It is pleasing to observe, that persons the most re- 
markable for their piety have often been equally dis- 
tinguished by their attainments in literature. Surely, 
examples like the present, and they might be adduced 
without number, are sufficient to refute an opinion 
sometimes entertained, that men, eminently religious, 
are generally weak or ill-informed. 

During their residence at Geneva, Fletcher and his 
two brothers lived with an elder sister, who had taken 
a house in that city for their accommodation. One 
day she was visited by a widow lady from Nyon, ac- 
companied by her three sons, whose general profli- 
gacy of character, in addition to some present provo- 
cation, extorted from the irritated parent a hasty 
imprecation. Fletcher, who was a witness of this un- 
natural scene, started from his chair, conjured the 
mother to bear with patience the difficulties of her 



LIFEOFFLETCHER. 5 

situation, urged the duty of attempting the reforma- 
tion of her children, and declared that he trembled 
lest the imprecation she had uttered should be follow- 
ed by some signal judgment. The same day the 
widow was nearly lost on the lake, on her return to 
Nyon; and shortly afterwards heard that two of her 
sons were drowned, and the third crushed to death at 
one of the gates of Geneva. "Her young prophet," 
as she was pleased to call him, was not at this time 
more than fourteen years of age. 

There are scarcely any individuals who have not 
experienced some signal deliverances from danger; 
though few, it is to be feared, are properly affected by 
them. About this period, young Fletcher met with 
several providential escapes, which he never after- 
wards mentioned without the strongest expressions of 
gratitude. Of these, the following are the most, me- 
morable: — One day he and his elder brother were 
fencing with swords, sufficiently defended, as they 
supposed, by buttons fastened to the ends of them. 
His brother, however, giving a forcible thrust, the 
button broke, and his sword made a deep wound in 
Fletcher's side, the scar of which he carried to his 
grave. 

At another time he and four other youths, in high 
spirits, made a solemn agreement to swim to a rocky 
island about five miles from the shore. This rash 
adventure nearly cost them their lives. Fletcher and 
another, having with great difficulty reached the spot, 
for some time despaired of ascending the island in 
consequence of the smoothness and steepness of the 
rock. At length, after many ineffectual efforts, they 

a2 



6 LIFE OF FLETCHER, 

contrived to crawl up. They then returned to shore* 
in a boat which they had ordered to follow them ; 
their companions having previously been taken up in 
another, when they were on the point of sinking. 

But the following deliverance, as related by himself, 
appears still more remarkable; — " Some years since I 
lived at a place very near the Rhine. In that part it 
is broader than the Thames at London bridge, and 
extremely rapid: but, having been long practised in 
swimming, I made no scruple of going into it at any 
time, being careful only to keep near the shore, that 
the stream might not carry me away. Once, how- 
ever, being less careful than usual, I was unawares 
drawn into the midchannel. The water was extremely 
rough, and poured along like a galloping horse. I 
endeavoured to swim against it, but in vain ; and was 
soon hurried far from home. When almost spent, I 
rested upon my back ; and then looked about for a 
landing place, finding that I must either land or sink. 
With much difficulty I got near the shore: but the 
rocks were so rugged and sharp that I saw, if I at- 
tempted to land there, I should be torn in pieces; so I 
was constrained to turn again to the midstream. At 
last, despairing of life, I was cheered by the sight of a 
fine smooth creek, into which I was swiftly carried by 
a violent stream. A building stood directly across it, 
which I did not then know to be a powder mill. The 
last thing I can remember was the striking of my 
breast against one of the piles whereon it stood. I 
then lost my senses, and knew nothing more till I 
arose on the other side of the mill. When I came to 
myself I was in a calm, safe place, perfectly well; 



LIFE OF FLETCHER. 7 

nothing was amiss but the distance of my clothes, the 
stream having driven me five miles from the place 
where I left them. Many persons gladly welcomed 
me on shore: one gentleman, in particular, who said, 
— <I looked when you went under the mill, and again 
when you rose on the other side. The time of your 
being immerged among the piles was exactly twenty 
minutes/ " 

After Fletcher had gone through the usual course of 
study at Geneva, he was sent by his father to Lenz- 
burg, a small town in the canton of Lower Argovia, 
where, in addition to his other literary pursuits, he 
studied the German; and, on his leaving that place, 
he remained some time at home, diligently engaged in 
learning Hebrew, and reading the higher branches of 
the mathematics. 

Until this period it appeared to have been no less 
the wish of Fletcher, than the intention of his pa- 
rents, that he should be educated for the church. 
And surely no one could be considered as better qua- 
lified for the sacred office, with respect either to na- 
tural disposition, or mental capacity. His habits, his 
sentiments, and his studies; his reverential awe of 
God, his insatiable thirst after truth, and his uncom- 
mon abhorrence of vice, — all united, even at an early 
age, to convince his friends that he was designed for 
the service of the sanctuary. Contrary, however, to 
all expectation, before he had arrived at the age of 
twenty, he manifested views of a very different na- 
ture. The following is the account given by himself 
of this remarkable change in his intentions: — t€ From 
the time I first began to feel the love of God shed 



8 LIFE OF FLETCHER. 

abroad in my heart, (I think at seven years of age,) I 
resolved to give myself up to God and to the service 
of His Church, if ever I should be fit for it: but the 
corruption which is in the world and that which was 
in my heart, soon weakened, if not erased, those first 
characters which grace had written upon it. How- 
ever, I went through my studies with the design of 
going into orders: but afterwards, feeling I was un- 
equal to so great a burthen, disgusted by the necessity 
I should be under to subscribe to the high Calvinism of 
the Geneva articles, and disapproving of entering upon 
so sacred an office from any secular motives; I yielded 
to the desire of those of my friends who advised me 
to enter into the army." 

Such were the reasons which, according to his own 
statement, induced him to prefer the camp to the church. 
And may we not add as an additional motive, though 
he appears to have been unconscious of its existence, a 
secret desire after military glory, so natural to a youth- 
ful mind, and which could scarcely fail being excited 
in a man who, like Fletcher, was eminent for personal 
courage, energy of character, and skill in gymnastic 
exercises. 

His pursuits were now materially changed. For- 
tifications became his favourite study: the systems of 
theologians were superseded by those of Vauban and 
Cohorn; and, notwithstanding the remonstrances of 
his parents, he determined to seek preferment as a sol- 
dier of fortune. To accomplish this design he went 
to Lisbon, where he obtained a captain's commission 
in the Portuguese service, and was ordered to be in 
readiness to sail for Brazil in a vessel which was then 



LITE OF FLETCHER. 9 

fitting out for the purpose. An opportune accident, 
however, occasioned by a servant's overturning a ket- 
tle of boiling water on his leg, confined him to his bed 
until the ship had sailed. And thus was he rescued 
from a situation where his valuable life would most 
probably have fallen a sacrifice; for the ship and all 
her crew were lost 

His military ardour, however, was not checked by 
this disappointment. Shortly after, hearing that there 
was a prospect of active service in the Netherlands, 
he hastened to Flanders, where his uncle, who was 
then a colonel in the Dutch service, had procured him 
a commission. But his prospects were again blasted 
by the ratifications of peace; and, his uncle shortly 
after dying, he gave up, at least for the present, all 
thoughts of entering into the army. 

As he had now no particular engagement, he resolv- 
ed, with the consent of his parents, to visit England, 
and to add to his other attainments a knowledge of our 
language. This journey, which he appears to have 
taken partly from a desire after further improvement 
in literature, and partly from a hope of obtaining some 
situation for his support in life, was over-ruled for the 
accomplishment of events infinitely important to him- 
self and others. In consequence of this visit, his 
views on Divine subjects were enlarged, his religious 
character established, and his former purpose of enter- 
ing the church resumed and effected; and it will not be 
too much to assert, that, due allowance being made for 
some peculiarities arising from his national feelings and 
habits, he became an illustrious model for christian 
ministers in every age. 



10 LIFE OF FLETCHER. 

Fletcher's first arrival in England was attended with 
circumstances somewhat discouraging. Having through 
heedlessness sealed his letters of introduction, and 
from the same cause, or, shall we say, from a simplicity 
of character which revolted from the semblance of a 
fraud, having taken no precautions to conceal them, 
they were naturally enough discovered, and as natu- 
rally seized by the officers at the custom-house. This 
untoward circumstance was likely to have been suc- 
ceeded by another of a more serious description. As 
neither he nor some other Swiss gentleman who ac- 
companied him spoke English, they were at a loss how 
to make themselves understood; or, which was their 
immediate object, to exchange their foreign for Eng- 
lish money. In this dilemma Fletcher, hearing a well 
dressed Jew speak French, frankly informed him of 
his difficulty, and at the Jew's request entrusted him 
with his purse, which contained about ninety pounds. 
On his return to the inn he told his companions what 
he had done. With one voice they predicted his loss. 
" Your money," said they, "is gone. You need never 
expect to see a crown or a doit of it more. Men are 
constantly waiting about the doors of these inns, on pur- 
pose to take in strangers. " The alarm of his more pru- 
dent friends proved, however, on this occasion un- 
founded. The honest Israelite returned in a few mi- 
nutes, and brought with him the whole of the money. 
This business being happily adjusted, his next con- 
cern was to find out a suitable tutor. He was accord- 
ingly recommended to a Mr. Burchell, of South 
Mimms, in Hertfordshire, under whose direction he stu- 
died the English language and various branches of 



LIFE OF FLETCHER. 11 

polite literature. Shortly afterwards he accompanied 
his tutor, who removed to Hatfield, where his easy 
and engaging manners gained him the esteem and af- 
fection not only of the family in which he lived, but 
also of various gentlemen in the neighbourhood whom 
he frequently visited. Mr. Burchell, under whose roof 
he spent about eighteen months, is said to have loved 
him as his own son. 

Fletcher having by this time made considerable pro- 
ficiency in the English language, engaged himself as 
tutor in the family of Mr. Hill, M. P. for Shrewsbury, 
who resided at Tern Hall, in the parish of Atcham. 
It is probable that his partiality to England deter- 
mined him to prolong his stay in this country; and the 
slender state of his finances, the usual lot of a younger 
son, induced him to accept of a situation which would 
enable him to support himself without being burden- 
some to his family. 






12 LIFE OF FLETCHER. 



CHAPTER II. 

HIS CONVERSION — ORDINATION RELIGIOUS CORRESPOND- 
ENCE SETTLEMENT AT MADELEY. 

Mr. Fletcher had manifested, as we have seen, from 
a very early age, an uncommon reverence for religion. 
His piety indeed seems somewhat to have declined at 
college, and perhaps was at a still lower ebb during 
his short military career: but it appears to have again 
considerably revived on his arrival in England. He 
was still, however, a very different character from 
what he afterwards became, both with respect to the 
simplicity and correctness of his views, and to the 
steadiness and efficiency of his religion. His devotion 
had hitherto been rather a paroxysm than a habit; and 
his piety a latent principle, which, though readily 
called into action, not unfrequently remained dormant, 
or, when employed, was found unequal to its office. 
Whereas, in. after life, prayer was the habitual language 
of his heart, which, like the consecrated breast-plate 
of Aaron, steadily reflected the will of heaven; and so 
powerful were the effects of his religion, as to render 
him most eminent for those very graces which were 
in direct opposition to his natural failings. Pride and 
irritability, he frequently acknowledged, were his 



LIFE OF FLETCHER. 13 

setting sins; an avowal which not a little surprised his 
friends; for those who were most conversant with him 
uniformly declared that humility and meekness were 
the most prominent traits in his christian character. 
" His was a meekness," says Mrs. Fletcher, " which no 
affronts could move; a humility which loved to be un- 
known, forgotten and despised." 

Without entering into a minute detail, which would 
tend rather to bewilder than inform, a brief reference 
to the inquiries, doubts, and fears, which terminated 
eventually in a peace that never afterwards forsook 
him, must be at once an interesting and an instructive 
employment. For this purpose a translation of one of 
his letters to his brother Henry may be appropriately 
inserted; a copy of which was kindly presented to the 
compiler of this narrative by a surviving relative of 
Mr. Fletcher. 

" At eighteen years of age I was a real enthusiast ; 
for, though I lived in the indulgence of many known 
sins, I considered myself a religious character, because 
I regularly attended public worship, made long prayers 
in private, and devoted as much time as I could spare 
from my studies to reading the prophetic writings, and 
a few devotional books. My feelings were easily ex- 
cited, but my heart was rarely affected ; and, notwith- 
standing these deceitful externals, I was destitute of a 
sincere love to God, and consequently to my neigh- 
bour. All my hopes of salvation rested on my prayers, 
devotions, and a certain habit of saying, 'Lord, I am 
a great sinner, pardon me for the sake of Jesus Christ/ 
In the mean time I was ignorant of the fall and ruin 
in which every man is involved, the necessity of a 

B 



14 LIFE OF FLETCHER* 

Redeemer, and the way by which we may be rescued 
from the fall by receiving Christ with a living faith. 
I should have been quite confounded if any one had 
then asked me the following questions taken from the 
Holy Scriptures: Do you know that you are dead in 
Adam? Do you live to yourself? Do you live in 
Christ and for Christ? Does God rule in your heart? 
Do you experience that peace of God which passeth 
all understanding? Is the love of God shed abroad 
in your heart by the Holy Spirit ? I repeat it, my 
dear brother, these questions would have astonished 
and confounded me, as they must every one who relies 
on the form of religion, and neglects its power and in- 
fluence. Blessed be God, who, through his abundant 
mercy in Jesus Christ, did not then call away my soul 
when with all my pretended piety I must have had my 
portion with hypocrites, those clouds without water, 
those corrupt unfruitful rootless trees, those wandering 
stars for whom is reserved the blackness of darkness 
for ever. 

"My religion, alas! having a different foundation to 
that which is in Christ, was built merely on the sand; 
and no sooner did the winds and floods arise than it 
tottered and fell to ruins. I formed an acquaintance 
with some Deists, at first with the design of convert- 
ing them, and afterwards with the pretence of tho- 
roughly examining their sentiments. But my heart, 
like that of Balaam, was not right with God. He 
abandoned me, and I enrolled myself in their party. 
A considerable change took place in my external 
deportment. Before I had a form of religion; and 
now I lost it. But as to the state of my heart, it was 



LIFE OF FLETCHER, 15 

precisely the same. I did not remain many weeks 
in this state; my change was too sudden to be perma- 
nent. I sought for a reconciliation with my Saviour; 
or rather the good Shepherd sought after me, a wan- 
dering sheep. Again I became professedly a christian, 
that is, I resumed a regular attendance at church and 
the communion, and offered up frequent prayers in the 
name of Jesus Christ. There were also in my heart 
some sparks of true love to God, and some germs of 
genuine faith: but a connexion with worldly charac- 
ters, and an undue anxiety to promote my secular in- 
terests, prevented the growth of these christian graces. 
Had I now been asked on what I founded my hopes 
of salvation, I should have replied, that I was not 
without some religion; that so far from doing harm to 
any one, I wished well to all the world ; that I resisted 
my passions; that I abstained from pleasures in which 
I had once needlessly indulged; and that if I was not 
so religious as some others, it was because such a degree 
of religion was unnecessary; that heaven might be ob- 
tained on easier terms; and that if I perished, the de- 
struction of the generality of christians was inevitable, 
which I could not believe was consistent with the 
mercy of God. 

"I was in this situation when a dream, in which I 
am constrained to acknowledge the hand of God, 
roused me from my security. On a sudden the hea- 
vens were darkened, the clouds rolled along in terrific 
majesty, and a thundering voice like a trumpet which 
penetrated to the bowels of the earth, exclaimed, 
Arise, ye dead, and come out of your graves. Instant- 
ly the earth and the sea gave up the dead which they 
contained ; and the universe was crowded with living 



16 LIFE OF FLETCHER. 

people who appeared to come out of their graves by 
millions. But what a difference amongst them ! Some 
convulsed with despair endeavoured in vain to hide 
themselves in their tombs, and cried to the hills to fall 
on them, and the mountains to cover them from the 
face of their holy Judge ; whilst others rose with se- 
raphic wings above the earth which had been the thea- 
tre of their conflicts and their victory. Serenity was 
painted on their countenances, joy sparkled in their 
eyes, and dignity was impressed on every feature! 

"My astonishment and terror were redoubled when 
I perceived myself raised up with this innumerable 
multitude into the vast regions of the air, from whence 
my affrighted eyes beheld this globe consumed by 
flames, the heavens on fire, and the dissolving ele- 
ments ready to pass away. But what did I feel when 
I beheld the Son of man coming in the clouds of hea- 
ven, in all the splendour of his glory, crowned 
with the charms of his mercy, and surrounded with 
the terrors of his justice? Ten thousand thousands 
went before him, and millions pressed upon his foot- 
steps. All nature was silent: the wicked were con- 
victed and condemned, and the sentence was pro- 
nounced,— Bind the tares and the chaff, and cast them 
into the lake of fire and brimstone! In an instant the 
air gave way under the feet of those who surrounded 
me; a yawninggulf received them, and closed itself upon 
them. At the same time He that sat upon the throne 
exclaimed, < Come, ye blessed of my Father, ye have 
suffered with me; come to participate in my glory, 
inherit the kingdom which I have prepared for you 
from the foundation of the world!' < Happy children 
of God/ I cried, 'you are exalted in triumph with 



IrXFE OF FLETCHER. 17 

your Redeemer; and my dazzled eyes will soon lose 
sight of yoti in the blaze of light which surrounds you. 
Wretch that I am! what words, what language, can 
express the horror of my situation/ 

"A fixed and severe look from the Judge as he de- 
parted, pierced me to the heart; and my anguish and 
confusion were extreme, when a brilliant personage 
despatched from the celestial host thus addressed me, 
— ' Slothful servant/ he exclaimed in a stern voice, 
* what dost thou here? dost thou presume to follow the 
Son of God, whom thou hast served merely with thy 
lips, while thy heart was far from him? Show me the 
seal of thy salvation, and the earnest of thy redemption; 
examine thy heart, and see if thou canst discover 
there a real love to God, and a living faith in his Son? 
Ask thy conscience what were the motives of thy pre- 
tended good works? Dost thou not see that pride and 
self-love were the source of them? Dost thou not see 
that the fear of hell rather than the fear of offending 
God, restrained thee from sin?' After these words he 
paused ; and, regarding me with a compassionate air, 
seemed to await my reply. But conviction and terror 
closed my mouth, and he thus resumed his discourse. 
1 Withhold no- longer from God the glory which is- due- 
to him. Turn to him with all thy heart, a*id become 
a new creature; Watch and pray, was the command 
of the Son of God: but instead of having done this by 
working out thy salvation with fear and trembling, 
thou hast slept the sleep of security. At this very 
moment dost thou nut sleep in that state of lethargy 
and spiritual death, from which the word of God,, the 
exhortations of his servants, and the strivings of his- 



18 LIFE OF FLETCHER. 

grace, have not been sufficient to deliver thee? My 
words will also probably be ineffectual; for he who 
has not listened to Jesus Christ speaking in the gospel, 
will not be likely to listen to an angel of the living 
God. Besides, time is swallowed up in eternity. There 
is no more place for repentance. Thou hast obstinately 
refused to glorify God's mercy in Christ Jesus: go, 
then, slothful servant, and glorify his justice.' 

" Having uttered these w T ords, he disappeared; and 
at the same instant the air gave way under my feet, 
the abyss began to open, dreadful wailings assailed my 
ears, and a whirlwind of smoke surrounded me. I 
considered myself on the brink of inevitable and eter- 
nal misery, when the agitation of my mind and body 
awoke me, of which nothing can equal the horror; 
and the mere recollection of which still makes me 
tremble. how happy I felt on awaking to find that 
I was still in the land of mercy, and the day of salva- 
tion! <0 my God,' I cried, * grant that this dream 
may continually influence my sentiments and my con- 
duct May it prove a powerful stimulus to excite me 
to prepare continually for the coming of my Great 
Master." 

The generality of dreams, it is readily allowed, are 
undeserving of attention, being for the most part little 
more than distorted representations of our waking 
hours, or physical effects of a disordered stomach. On 
some occasions, however, and surely the present one 
may be considered of this description, they have been 
so apposite to the circumstances of the individual, and 
have produced such important and permanent effects 
upon his future conduct, as to justify their being consi- 
dered as the intimations of a gracious Providence. 



LIFE OF FLETCHER. 19 

" For some days," continued Mr. Fletcher, "I was 
so dejected and harassed in mind as to be unable to 
apply myself to any thing. Whilst in this state I at- 
tempted to copy some music, when a servant (an Is- 
raelite indeed in whom there was no guile) entered 
my chamber. Having noticed my employment, 6 1 
am surprised, Sir/ said he, with a christian boldness, 
i that you who know so many things should forget 
what day this is, and that you should not be aware that 
the LordVday should be sanctified in a very different 
manner. ' 

"The sterling character of the man, his deep hu- 
mility, his zeal for the glory of God, his love to his 
neighbours, and especially his patience, which enabled 
him to receive with joy the insults he met with from 
the whole family, for Christ's sake, and above all, the 
secret energy which accompanied his words, deeply 
affected me, and convinced me more than ever of my 
real state. I was convinced, as it had been told me in 
my dream, that I was not renewed in the spirit of my 
mind, that I was not conformed to the image of God> 
and that without this the death of Christ would be of 
no avail for my salvation." 

This discovery was attended w r ith the most impor- 
tant results. Feeling his deficiency, he determined to 
make serious inquiries: he sought the society and ad- 
vice of christian friends, compared his own state of 
mind and hopes of salvation with the Scriptures, and 
prayed with much importunity that he might not be 
deceived in so momentous an investigation. At time* 
indeed he could not restrain some risings of indigna- 
tion at the idea of his being still imperfectly acquaint- 



20 LIFE OF FLETCHER. 

ed with the nature of religion. "Is it possible/' he 
would say, "-that I,, who have always been accounted 
so religious, who have made divinity my study, and 
received from the learned professors of Geneva a prize 
for the best essay on christian godliness; — is it possible 
that I should yet be ignorant of the subject?" But 
the more he examined himself, the more he was com- 
pelled to acknowledge that this was really the case. 
At the same time, an increasing sense of the evil of 
sin and of the depravity of his nature, convinced him 
that it was impossible to obtain reconciliation with 
God upon any plea of human merit. His prayer 
hence was, — •" Save me, Lord, as a brand snatched 
out of the fire ; give me justifying faith in thy blood ; 
cleanse me from my sins, for Satan will surely reign 
over me until Thou shalt take me into thy hand." 
Such were the devout and earnest expressions of this 
sincere seeker after truth, until at length, to adopt the 
appropriate language of a modern prelate, he obtained 
that "lively faith, which, through the grace of God, 
will incite men to do all which they can do; whilst it 
teaches them to rely upon nothing which they have 
done."* 

The feelings of Mr. Fleteher were now in unison 
with those of the Psalmist: — "0 Lord, truly I am 
thy servant, Thou hast loosed my bonds;" or rather, 
with those of the Apostle, — "The life which I now 
live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, 
who loved me, and gave himself for me,'' Hence- 
forth his religion equally influenced his sentiments, 

* Bishop Law's sermon on the Scriptural Doctrine of Man's Salvation, 



LIFE OF FLETCHER. 21 

and extended to his conduct; for Him, whom he had 
found as a Saviour, he determined to follow as a 
Guide. A host of witnesses could testify, that from 
this period he continued to walk worthy of his high 
vocation, "growing in grace, and adorning the doc- 
trine of God our Saviour." 

The spirit of religion is a social spirit. It opens 
the heart of its possessor, and renders him anxious 
that others should participate in his own enjoyments. 
A few extracts from some letters which Mr. Fletcher 
wrote about this time to one of his brothers will ex- 
emplify this remark, and afford a further insight into 
his present state of mind. — " How long," said he, 
"have I placed my happiness in mere chimeras! How 
often have I grounded my vain hopes upon imaginary 
foundations! I have been constantly employed in 
framing designs for my own felicity: but my disap- 
pointments have been as frequent and various as my 
projects. In the midst of my idle reveries how often 
have I said to myself, < Drag thy weary feet but to the 
summit of yonder eminence, a situation beyond which 
the world has nothing to present more adequate to 
thy wishes; and there thou shalt sit down in a state of 
repose.' On my arrival, however, at the spot pro- 
posed, a sad discovery has taken place: the whole 
scene has appeared more barren than the valley I had 
quitted, and the point of happiness which I lately ima- 
gined it possible to have touched with my ringer has 
presented itself at a greater distance than ever. 

"If hitherto, my dear brother, you have beguiled 
yourself with prospects of the same visionary nature, 
never expect to be more successful in your future pur- 



22 LIFE OF FLETCHER. 

Suits. One labour will only succeed another, making 
way for continual discontent and chagrin. Open your 
heart, and there you will discover the source of that 
painful inquietude to which, by your own confession, 
you have been long a prey; examine its secret re- 
cesses, and you will be convinced that man is an apos- 
tate being, who can never become truly happy till he 
is cast, as it were, into a new mould, and created a se- 
cond time. For my own part, when I first began to 
know myself, I endeavoured to throw a palliating dis- 
guise over the wretchedness of my condition : but the 
impression it had already made upon my heart was 
too deep to be erased. It was to no purpose that I 
reminded myself of the morality of my conduct. It 
was in vain, that I recollected the many encomiums 
that had been passed upon my early piety and virtue. 
And it was of little avail, that I sought to cast a mist 
before my eyes, by reasonings like these. If conver- 
sion implies a total change, — who has been converted 
in these days? Why dost thou imagine thyself worse 
than thou really art? Thou art a believer in God, and 
in Christ; thou art a christian; thou hast injured no 
person; thou art neither a drunkard nor an adulterer: 
thou hast discharged thy duties, not only in a general 
way, but with more than ordinary exactness; thou art 
a strict attendant at church; thou art accustomed to 
pray more regularly than others, and frequently with 
a good degree of fervour. Make thyself perfectly 
easy. Moreover, Jesus Christ has suffered for thy 
sins, and his merit will supply every thing that is 
lacking on thy part. 

ki It was by reasonings of this nature, that I endea- 



LIFE OF FLETCHER. 23 

voured to conceal from myself the deplorable state of 
my heart: and I am ashamed, my dear brother, I re- 
peat it, I am ashamed that I suffered myself so long to 
be deluded by the artifices of Satan, and the devices 
of my own heart. God himself has invited me; a 
cloud of apostles, prophets, and martyrs, have ex- 
horted me; and my conscience, animated by those 
sparks of grace which are latent in every breast, has 
urged me to enter in at the strait gate: but, notwith- 
standing all this, a subtle tempter, a deluding world, 
and a deceived heart, have constantly turned the ba- 
lance in favour of the broad way for above these 
twenty years. I have passed the most lovely part of 
my life in the service of these tyrannical masters, and 
am ready to declare in the face of the universe that 
all my reward has consisted in disquietude and re- 
morse. Happy had I been if I had listened to the 
earliest invitations of grace, and broken their iron 
yoke from off my neck." 

In another letter to the same brother he adds, 
11 Every day I make fresh discoveries in the holy 
Scriptures. I will not enter into detail, but will 
merely say that this is the sum of them ; that reli- 
gion consists in loving God above all things; that real 
love to God can have no other foundation than that of 
a living faith in Jesus Christ; and that this faith can 
have no firm root except in a broken heart, penetrated 
and melted down (if I may so express myself) by a 
feeling of its own corruption, and thus prepared for 
the reception of gracious impressions. This is what 
is intended by the word in the original which we 
badly translate repentance. But the grace of God 



24 LIFE OF FLETCHER. 

alone can enable us to enter into these truths, and to 
realize the experience of a humble heart, earnestly- 
seeking after, and praying for, the influence of the 
Spirit. Where this grace is in operation, fruit will 
necessarily be produced ; whereas if the tree is bar- 
ren, faith in Christ is not its root. In vain will its 
verdant leaves be marked with the name of the Re- 
deemer, in vain will his device be graven on every 
part of its bark, in vain will it cast forth a pleasant 
•shade for those who rest under its branches. If it 
bear not good fruit, it will be cut down, and cast into 
the fire. This, my dear brother, is my religion, and 
I am persuaded was the religion of the apostles also. 
It is from this source that, through the grace of God, 
will flow the various actions of my life. Weigh the 
whole in the balance of the sanctuary, and see if 
there is any thing defective in my sentiments. 

"It only remains for me to answer a few questions, 
which you probably may propose to me. 'What,' 
you may inquire, 'are the effects of the change you 
have experienced? Do you consider yourself abun- 
dantly better than others? Can you truly declare that 
you have triumphed overall your failings? And do 
you think soon to arrive at perfection?' With respect 
to the first question, I answer I make no comparisons. 
As to perfection, I do not believe it is attainable in 
this world. And with regard to my failings, and in- 
numerable sins, I bless God, througK Jesus Christ, 
that his grace has in part destroyed those evils which 
closed the way to heaven; and as to those I still feel, 
at least I know them, I sincerely lament them, I con- 
tinually fight against them, and am assured that the 



LIFE OF FLETCHER. 25 

sins which, alas, I still commit are forgiven for my 
Redeemer's sake. 

" God grant, my dear brother, that the gospel of 
Christ may not be foolishness or a stumbling-block to 
you. Saint Paul again and again declares that the phi- 
losophers, and those who were wise in their own eyes, 
regarded the grace of God as a subject beneath their 
reason and attention. And yet the first, I might al- 
most say the only qualification God requires in us, is a 
profound humility of heart, and a child-like docility of 
disposition. If with such a state of mind you read 
and compare the Scriptures, you will soon be convinc- 
ed that these things are really so, and this will neces- 
sarily influence your conduct. Then indeed we shall 
truly be brothers in Christ, and shall excite each other 
by our mutual exhortations and prayers to run with 
patience and constancy in our course even to the end, 
where Christ has placed crowns of glory for us." 

Shortly after this period Mr. Fletcher's attention 
was again directed to the work of the ministry: but, 
being diffident of his qualifications for so weighty an 
office, two years elapsed previous to his ordination. 
" Before," says he, "I was afraid: but now I tremble 
to meddle with holy things. Yet from time to time I 
feel strong desires to cast myself and my inability on 
the Lord, knowing that he can help me, and show 
His strength in my weakness/' 

Things were in this state when a living, with a pros- 
pect of early presentation, was offered him by his 
patron. But he declined accepting it, as he then con- 
ceived that if he ever went into orders, he should be 
better qualified to preach in his native country, and in 

c 



26 LIFE OF FLETCHER. 

his own tongue. "I am in suspense," he continues: 
"on one side, whenever I feel any degree of the love 
of God and man, my heart tells me I must try ; on the 
other, I so plainly see my want of gifts, and especially 
of that soul of all the labours of a minister, love, 
continual, universal, ardent, love; that my confi- 
dence disappears, and I accuse myself of pride in dar- 
ing to entertain the desire of one day supporting the 
ark of God." 

In the mean time he diligently prosecuted those stu- 
dies which are generally regarded as preparatory to 
holy orders, and endeavoured to make himself useful 
in a private station. He instructed the servants in Mr. 
Hill's family, where he constantly resided, and per- 
mitted some who were the best disposed occasionally 
to join him in his private devotions. He also visited 
any of the poor of the neighbourhood, who were sick; 
and, when no other person could be procured, cheer- 
fully performed the meanest offices for them. A per- 
son who was acquainted with him at this period re- 
lates, that it was his custom after the service on a 
Sunday, to take a solitary walk by the Severn side, for 
the purpose of meditation and prayer ; and refers with 
transport to his being sometimes privileged to accom- 
pany Mr. Fletcher on these occasions. And another 
man, who then resided in the village, speaks with the 
same delight of the spirituality of his conversation, 
the sweetness of his temper, and the fervour of his 
piety. "To those who perfectly knew him in this 
state of retirement," says Mr. Gilpin, "he appeared 
as a polished shaft, hid indeed for a season in the 
quiver of his Lord ; yet ready for immediate service, 
and prepared to fly in any appointed direction. 2 



?> 



LIFE OF FLETCHER. 27 

Having manifested some tendency to consumption, 
Mr. Fletcher now lived upon vegetable diet ; and in- 
deed, for some time, on milk and water, and bread. 
This excessive abstemiousness, which appears at first 
to have been adopted for the preservation of his 
health, was for some years after continued from choice. 
He also sat up two whole nights in the week for the 
pupose of reading, prayer, and meditation; and on 
other nights never allowed himself to sleep so long as 
he could keep up his attention to the book before him. 
These imprudent excesses are supposed to have given 
the first shock to his constitution, and to have laid the 
foundation of infirmities which accompanied him to 
the grave. As there is little danger in our day, of 
ascetic courses becoming popular, it is merely neces- 
sary to say, that Mr. Fletcher never enjoined them 
upon others ; and that in after-life he acknowledged 
his own error in adopting them, though he was not 
aware at the time that his health suffered any injury 
from them. 

In the year 1756 he lost his father, for whom he 
entertained a most affectionate regard. " I lately 
heard," says he, u that my aged father is gone the way 
of all flesh: but the glorious circumstances of his death 
make me ample amends for the sorrow which I felt. 
For some years I have written to him with as much 
freedom as I could have done to a son, though not 
with so much effect as I wished: but last spring God 
visited him with a severe illness, which brought him 
to himself; and, after a deep repentance, he died in 
the full assurance of faith. This has put several of 
my friends on thinking seriously, which gives me 
great cause for thankfulness. " 



28 LIFE OF FLETCHER. 

For some time past Mr. Fletcher had received seve- 
ral promises of preferment in the Church: but they 
served rather to retard than hasten his entrance into it. 
Having a sacrifice to make, and not a fortune to se- 
cure, he was fearful lest his intentions should be de- 
based by views of an interested nature. At length his 
humble reluctance being overcome, he solemnly deter- 
mined to offer himself as a candidate for holy orders in 
the English Church; and was accordingly ordained 
deacon at the chapel royal, St. James', on the 6th of 
March, 1757, and priest on the following Sunday, by 
the Bishop of Bangor. As he had at present no stated 
cure, after having preached a few times to some French 
refugees in his own language, and also in two of the 
chapels belonging to Mr. Wesley, with whom he had 
long been intimately acquainted, he returned with his 
pupils into Shropshire. " I set out," says he, "in two 
days for the country. May I be faithful; harmless as 
a dove, wise as a serpent, and bold as a lion, for the 
common cause." 

He now occasionally preached in some of the neigh- 
bouring churches. Atcham, Wroxeter, the abby church 
in Shrewsbury, and St. Alkmond's in the same town, 
were the scenes of his gratuitous services. But the 
decided tone of his preaching, in connexion with the 
natural fervour of the Swiss, which does not exactly 
comport with our more phlegmatic notions of pulpit 
eloquence, rendered him far from popular. Indeed, at 
present, neither his talents nor his virtues appear to 
have been duly appreciated, beyond the immediate 
circle of his friends. To a person who expressed 
some regret that he had not more opportunities for 



\ 



LIFE OF FLETCHER. 29 

public labour, Mr, Fletcher replied, with his charac- 
teristic piety, " The will of God be done: I am in His 
hands. If He do not call me to so much public duty, 
I have the more time for study, prayer, and praise." 

Having occasion during the following spring to ac- 
company his pupils to London, he determined to avail 
himself of that opportunity to call upon the Rev. John 
Berridge, the late excellent vicar of Everton. He ac- 
cordingly introduced himself as a raw convert, who had 
taken the liberty to wait on him for the benefit of his 
instruction and advice. From his accent and manners 
Mr. Berridge perceived that he was a foreigner, and 
asked him what countryman he was. " A Swiss, from 
the canton of Bern," was the reply. " From Bern ! 
then, probably, you can give me some account of a 
young countryman of your's, one John Fletcher, who 
has lately preached a few times for the Mr. Wesleys, 
and of whose talents, learning, and piety, they both 
speak in terms of high eulogy. Do you know him?" 
" Yes, Sir, I know him intimately; and, did those 
gentlemen know him as well, they would not speak 
of him in such terms, for which he is more obliged to 
their partial friendship than to his own merits." u You 
surprise me," said Mr. Berridge, M in speaking so 
coldly of a countryman, in whose praise they are so 
warm." u I have the best reason," he rejoined, " for 
speaking of him as I do, — I am John Fletcher." " If 
you are John Fletcher," replied his host, u you must 
do me the favour to take my pulpit to-morrow; and 
when we are better acquainted, without implicitly re- 
ceiving your statement, or that of your friends, I shall 
be able to judge for myself." Thus commenced an in- 

c2 



30 LIFE OF FLETCHER. 

timacy with Mr. Berridge, which controversy could 
not afterward destroy. 

Letters written on the spur of the occasion, however 
interesting they may be to the individuals to whom 
they were originally sent, are rarely adapted for the 
public eye. From a man, however, of Mr. Fletcher's 
spirit, we may always expect to find something which 
will make its way directly to the heart, and excite feel- 
ings of interest in the mind of every truly religious 
person. Two or three extracts from his letters at this 
period, while they show his strong desire of being 
useful to the several individuals he addressed, will at 
the same time bring us more intimately acquainted 
with the secret feelings of his own mind. 

In a letter addressed to a Mrs. Glynne of Shrews- 
bury, he writes as follows: — " As it is never too late to 
do what multiplicity of business, rather than forget- 
fulness, has forced us to defer, 1 am not ashamed, 
though after some months, to use the liberty you gave 
me, to inquire after the welfare of your soul; and that 
so much the more, as I am conscious I have not for- 
gotten you at the throne of grace. may my peti- 
tions have reached heaven, and forced from thence at 
least some drops of those spiritual showers of righte- 
ousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost which I im- 
plore for you. I have often thought of you, Madam, 
while reading the letters of a lady (Mrs. Lefevre) who 
was a christian, and an eminent christian. The re- 
proach of Christ was her crown of rejoicing, his cross 
her continual support, his followers her nearest com- 
panions, his example the pattern of her conversation. 
Each of her letters may be a model for christian cor- 



LIFE OF FLETCHER. 31 

respondents, by the simplicity, edification, and love, 
they breathe in every line. When shall I write as she 
did? When my heart shall be as full of the love of 
God as her's was. May the Lord enable you to walk 
in her steps ; and grant me to see you shining among 
the humble loving Marys of this age, as she did but a 
few months ago. Her God is our God: the same spi- 
rit that animated her is waiting at the door of our 
hearts to cleanse them and fill them with his consola- 
tions. Why then should we give way to desponden- 
cy; and refuse to cherish that lively hope, which if 
any one has, ' he will purify himself even as God is 
pure.' " 

To another lady, the Hon. Mrs. , he writes 

thus: — "To a believer Jesus is alone the desirable, 
the everlasting distinction and honour of men. All 
other advantages, though now so proudly extolled, so 
vehemently coveted, are like the down on the thistle, 
blown away in a moment, and never secure to the pos- 
sessor. But amidst all the possible changes of life, 
Christ is a rock. To see him by faith, to lay hold 
on, to rely, to live upon him, this is the refuge 
from the storm, the shadow from the heat. I always 
feel my heart refreshed when I am talking or thinking 
of Jesus. It is a feast to my sinful soul, when I am 
meditating on the glories which compose his blessed 
name. Thou Light of the world, enlighten my 
soul! Teach me to know more of thine infinite and 
unsearchable riches, that I may love Thee with an in- 
creasing love, and serve thee with an increasing zeal, 
till Thou bringest me to glory." 

Jn another letter written at this time, a passage oc- 



32 LIFE OF FLETCHER. 

curs, which shows in a striking manner that lowly- 
sense of himself which was so characteristic of this 
holy man. " If I did not write to you before, it was 
not that I wanted a remembrancer within, but rather 
an encourager without. There is generally upon my 
heart such a sense of my unworthiness, that I some- 
times dare hardly open my mouth before a child of 
God." 

To another christian friend he speaks upon the same 
point, and in terms equally characteristic of his gene- 
ral feelings. " A few days ago the Lord gave me two 
or three lessons on the subject I so greatly need, — po- 
verty of spirit. I could then say, what Gregory 
Lopez was enabled to say at all times, — i There is no 
man of whom I have not a better opinion than of my- 
self.' If ever I am humble and patient, if ever I 
enjoy solid peace of mind, it must be in this very 
spirit. Ah! why do I not actually find these virtues? 
Because I am filled with self-sufficiency, and am pos- 
sessed by that self-esteem which blinds me and hin- 
ders me from doing justice to my own demerits. 0! 
pray that the Spirit of Jesus may remove these scales 
from my eyes for ever, and compel me to retire into my 
own nothingness." 

During this and the following year, Mr. Fletcher's 
time was divided between London and Tern-Hall. 
At the opening of Parliament, he accompanied his 
pupils to the metropolis, and on its close he returned 
with them into Shropshire. In both places his preach- 
ing and talents became gradually more appreciated. In 
the country fresh churches were opened for his recep- 
tion; and in town he was constantly and most accept- 



LIFE OF FLETCHER. 33 

ably employed. Still, however, he had no permanent 
charge, though during the close of the summer of 
1759, he was frequently engaged in performing the 
duty at Madeley, where he contracted an affection for 
the people, which, notwithstanding the various trials 
he experienced from them, continued unabated till 
his death. 

One day during the following year, his patron with 
a joyful countenance informed him that the living of 
Dunham, in Cheshire, then vacant, was at his service. 
"The parish," he continued, "is small, the duty light, 
the income good, (400/. per annum,) and it is situated 
in a fine healthy sporting country." After thanking 
Mr. Hill most cordially for his kindness, Mr. Fletcher 
added, "Alas! Sir, Dunham will not suit me; there 
is too much money, and too little labour." "Few 
clergymen make such objections," said Mr. Hill; "it 
is a pity to decline such a living, as I do not know that 
I can find you another. What shall we do? Would 
you like Madeley?" "That, Sir, would be the very 
place for me." " My object, Mr. Fletcher, is to make 
you comfortable in your own way. If you prefer 
Madeley, I shall find no difficulty in persuading Cham- 
bers, the present vicar, to exchange it for Dunham, 
which is worth more than twice as much." In this 
way he was appointed to the living of Madeley, with 
which he was so perfectly satisfied, that he never af- 
terwards would accept of any other preferment. He 
was also now disengaged from the charge of his pu- 
pils, as just at this period they were sent to the Uni- 
versity. The elder of them died about the time of his 
coming of age. The younger first represented the 



34 LIFE OF FLETCHER. 

town of Shrewsbury, afterwards the county of Salop; 
and at length took his seat in the house of peers, as 
Baron Berwick of Attingham house, the name which 
is now given to the place formerly called Tern Hall. 
Attingham house is a handsome modern structure on 
the right hand of the turnpike road, going from Wel- 
lington to Shrewsbury ; and is erected near the con- 
fluence of the Tern and the Severn. 

Nothing can now be accurately ascertained with re- 
gard to Mr. Fletcher's conduct as a tutor. His lite- 
rary attainments well qualified him for the office; and 
his religious principles, we may reasonably infer, 
would insure a faithful attention to it. He appears to 
have been hardly ever separated from his pupils. 
When, they travelled, he accompanied them ; and 
when they were at home, he also was stationary. His 
long continuance at Tern Hall was a proof that he was 
satisfied with his situation ; while the kind anxiety of 
his patron to procure him preferment, and a subse- 
quent request that he would attend his son on a tour 
to the continent,* afford a presumptive evidence that 
Mr. Hill was equally satisfied with the tutor. 

*In a letter dated Madeley, April 27, 1761, he says, " Mr. Hill has writ- 
ten me a very obliging letter to engage me to accompany the eldest of my 
pupils to Switzerland ; and, if I had any other country than the place where 
lam, I should perhaps have been tempted to go. At present, however, I 
have no temptation that way ; and I have declined the offer as politely as 
I could." 



LIFE OF FLETCHER. 35 



CHAPTER III 



HIS MANNER OF PREACHING — MINISTERIAL LABOURS DEVO- 
TIONAL SPIRIT. 

Madeley is a populous and picturesque village in the 
liberties of Wenlock Franchise, and is separated from 
Broseley by the Severn. It has long been celebrated 
for its extensive collieries and iron-works, and more 
recently for an excellent china manufactory. Previous 
to Mr. Fletcher's presentation to the living, its inha- 
bitants, with some honourable exceptions, were noto- 
rious for their ignorance and impiety. They openly 
profaned the Sabbath, treated the most holy things 
with contempt, disregarded the restraints of decency, 
and ridiculed the very name of religion. It is a re- 
proach to England that such a description is but too 
frequently applicable to places where mines and ma- 
nufactories have collected together a crowded popula- 
tion. In this benighted village, Fletcher stood forth 
as a preacher of righteousness ; and, during the space 
of twenty-five years, appeared as a burning and shin- 
ing light. 

As Madeley was the place of his choice, so also it 
was one for which he was peculiarly qualified. He 



36 LIFE OP FLETCHER. 

foresaw the difficulties and trials of his situation: but, 
equally regardless of labour or reproach, he cheer- 
fully entered upon his duty with a zeal proportioned 
to the arduous nature of his charge. For several 
months after his ordination he had been in the habit 
of generally reading his sermons: but being by this 
time fully acquainted with the English language, he 
trusted to his extemporary powers, after having 
sketched out for his private meditation some of the 
particulars of his intended discourse. This latter 
mode of preaching is alike preferable to that servile 
repetition of a sermon w T hich so generally prevails in 
Switzerland, and to that phlegmatic reading of a com- 
position which has still so many advocates in the Eng- 
lish Church. Upon a person of lively feelings, and 
ready utterance, a written sermon operates like a 
spell, from which he cannot depart; his invention 
sleeping, while his utterance follows his eye. Where- 
as when he has nothing before him except the audi- 
ence whom he is addressing, his judgment and imagi- 
nation, as well as his memory, are called forth. Such 
parts are omitted as would come feebly from the 
tongue, or fall heavily upon the ear; and their place 
happily supplied by matter newly laid-in in the course 
of study, or fresh from the feelings of the moment.* 
The deep attention of Mr. Fletcher had paid to the 



* See Southey's Life of Wesley. 

The preparatory notes to one of Mr. Fletcher's sermons are here subjoin- 
ed. If, in their present form, they appear somewhat desultory, the observ. 
ant reader will perceive that they contain materials which, when expanded 
by the impassioned eloquence and impressive delivery of the preacher' 
would arrest the attention of the most indifferent hearer. 






LIFE OF FLETCHER. 37 

recesses of his own heart enabled him to form no in- 
adequate idea of the internal feelings of others. 
Hence he knew when to probe, and when to heal ; 
when to depress, and when to enccrurage: and no per- 
son's case was so perplexed or desperate, but he was 
in some measure prepared to explain and relieve it. 
A happy talent too which he possessed, of selecting 

Luke xii. 20. — Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee. 

Let us consider — 

I. Why the person mentioned in the text is called a fool. 

He was rich in this world ; but neglected being rich towards God, rich in 
grace. 

He was perplexed about the manner of bestowing his goods, when he 
had numbers of poor neighbours to whom he might have given the super- 
fluity of them. 

He determined to pull down his barns and build greater, instead of break- 
ing off his sins, and building the hopes of his salvation on the Rock of 
ages. 

He promised himself a long life ; as if he had a lease of it signed by his 
heavenly Lord. 

He said to his soul, " Take thine ease," instead of determining to work 
out his salvation with fear and trembling. 

II. The suddenness of the summons, and the privations that would at- 
tend it, — " This night shall thy soul be required of thee." Not so much as 
to-morrow is allowed him to dispose of those goods which were laid up for 
many years. He must immediately part with all. 

All his moveable goods, — for a winding-sheet. 
All his landed estate, — for a grave. 
All his barns and houses, — for a coffin. 
His soul, it is to be feared. 

III. The particular time of its execution. — This night, &c. This seems 
to imply, — 

Darkness and horror, which chiefly belong to the night. Of this we have 
striking illustrations in the destruction of the first-born of the Egyptians, 
and of Sennacherib's army. 

Drowsiness and carnal security, illustrated by the parable of the foolish 
virgins. 

D 



38 LIFE OF FLETCHER. 

at a moment the most appropriate passages of Scrip- 
ture, clothed his words with a divine authority, and 
enabled him to speak as one who was conscious of his 
high credentials. 

" There was an energy in his preaching," says Mr. 
Gilpin, "that was irresistible. His subjects, his lan- 
guage, his gestures, the tone of his voice, and the 
turn of his countenance, all conspired to fix the atten- 

Sadness, in opposition to those nights which he had perhaps spent in de- 
bauchery and vain diversions. 

Sin, and ignorance of the ways of God, which are called " darkness and 
night," " works of darkness," &c. 

IV. The nature and value of the soul to be required. 

How excellent! spiritual, immortal, endued with the most glorious facul- 
ties, made after the image of God. 

How precious ! Its value may be estimated from the admirable texture 
of the body, which is only tfhe casket where that jewel is placed. 

From the pains taken to adorn and repair the body, whose value depends 
only on the jewel it contains. 

From the testimony of Christ, who prefers one soul to the whole material 
creation. Matt. xvi. 26. 

V. Who will require the soul of the rich man? 

Not Christ, as a Saviour ; for in that capacity He hath nothing to do with 
dying unbelievers. 

Nor good angels ; they carried Lazarus to Abraham's bosom, but the rich 
man found his way to the flames without them. 

Nor departed saints ; who neither can nor will meddle with unregenerate 
souls. Luke xvi. 

Who then ? Some unforeseen accident or distemper. 

Deaths who delivers the wicked into the hands of the tormentors. 

Evil spirits, — the ministers of Divine justice. 

VI. The force of the expression, — Thy soul shall be required of thee. — 
The man whose soul is required may say, May not that of some poor pining 
Lazarus be required first ? No. Thy soul. 

May not that of an old Simeon, who longs to depart in peace, be allowed 
to die first? No, — thy hour is come ; of thee is thy soul required. 

May not some of my servants or weeping friends die first? No, cries the 
stern messenger ; my errand is to thee. 



LIFE OF FLETCHER. 39 

tion, and affect the heart. Without aiming at subli- 
mity, he was truly sublime; and uncommonly elo- 
quent, without affecting the orator. He was won- 
drously skilled in adapting himself to the different 
capacities and conditions of his hearers. He could 
stoop to the illiterate, and rise with the learned ; 
he had incontrovertible arguments for the skeptic, and 
powerful persuasives for the listless believer; he had 
sharp remonstrance for the obstinate, and strong con- 
solation for the mourner. To hear him without ad- 
miration, was impossible ; without profit, improbable. 
The unthinking went from his presence under the in- 
fluence of serious impressions, and the obdurate with 
kindled relentings." Mr. Wesley describes him as 
superior to Whitfield in his qualifications for a public 
preacher, " Instead of being confined," says he, "to 
a country village, he ought to have shone in every 
corner of our land. He was full as much called to 
sound an alarm through all the nation as Mr. Whit- 
field himself; nay, abundantly more so, seeing he 
was much better qualified for that important work. 
He had a more striking person, an equally winning 
address, together with a richer flow of fancy, a 
stronger understanding, a far greater treasure of learn- 
ing both in languages, philosophy, philology, and di- 
vinity ; and above all, (which I can speak with fuller 
assurance, because I had a thorough knowledge both 
of one and the other,) a more deep and constant com- 
munion with the Father, and with the Son Jesus 
Christ. And yet let not any one imagine, that I de- 
preciate Mr. Whitfield, or undervalue the grace of 
God, and the extraordinary gifts, which his great 



40 LIFE OP FLETCHER. 

Master vouchsafed unto him. I believe he was highly- 
favoured of God; yea, that he was one of the most 
eminent ministers, that has appeared in England, or 
perhaps in the world, during the present century. 
Yet, I must own, I have known many fully equal to 
Mr. Whitfield, both in holy tempers and holiness of 
conversation: but one equal herein to Mr. Fletcher, I 
have not known; no, not in a life of fourscore years. " 
Another friend of his adds, "I would rather have 
heard one sermon from Mr. Fletcher viva voce, than 
have read a volume of his works. His words were 
clothed with power, and entered with effect. His 
writings were arrayed in all the garb of human lite- 
rature. But his living word soared an eagle's flight 
above humanity. In short, his preaching was aposto- 
lic ; while his writings, though enlightened, are but 
human/' 

After due allowance for the partiality of friendship, 
and the figurative and high-wrought strain of some of 
these expressions, that man's preaching must be allow- 
ed to have been of no ordinary stamp, which elicited 
such descriptions; and to these many other testimonies 
might be added of its transcendent excellency. 

But while we admire his very superior powers as 
a preacher, it may not be uninteresting to point out 
the grand topic which, like a rich vein of precious 
ore, ran through his discourses, and gave to them their 
peculiar excellence. This topic was the grace and 
mercy of God through the Lord Jesus Christ. How- 
ever quick, penetrating, and powerful, his word in 
general was, he was accustomed to place his chief glory 
and pleasure in spreading abroad the benedictions of 



LIFE OF FLETCHER. 41 

the gospel. He considered the ministration of mercy 
as abundantly more glorious than that of condemna- 
tion, and was disposed to magnify it as such on all 
occasions. Experiencing in his own heart its inesti- 
mable effects, he was anxious that all others should be 
partakers of his joy. This therefore was the grand 
point upon which he delighted to dwell, and upon 
which he had astonishing things to offer. His dispo- 
sition to universal benevolence was conspicuous 
through the whole of his public ministrations ; but 
especially so in the latter years of his life, when his 
heart was as a vessel running over with Christian 
charity. 

"0 the depth/' he exclaimed, "of the mystery of 
faith! the breadth, the length, the height, of the 
love of Christ! All his stupendous humiliation from 
his Father's bosom, through the virgin's womb to the 
accursed tree; all his astonishing exaltation, from the 
dust of the grave, and the sorrows of hell, to the joys 
of heaven and the highest throne of glory; all this 
immense progress of incarnate love — all, all is ours. 
His mysterious incarnation re-unites and endears us to 
God ; his natural birth procures our spiritual regene- 
ration ; his unspotted life restores us to a blissful im- 
mortality; his bitter agony gives us a calm repose; his 
perfect obedience is our title to endless felicity; his 
full atonement purchases our free justification ; his 
cruel death is the spring of immortal life; his grave, 
the gate of heaven ; his resurrection, the pledge of 
glory ; his ascension, the triumph of our souls ; his 
sitting at the right hand of the Majesty on high, the 
earnest of our future coronation and exalted felicity ; 

d2 



42 LIFE OF FLETCHER. 

and his prevailing intercession, the inexhaustible foun- 
tain of all our blessings. 

"Come then, conscious sinner, come to the feast of 
pardoning love ; taste with us, that the Lord is gra- 
cious. Let not a false humility detain thee, under 
pretence, that 'thou art not yet humbled and broken 
enough for sin.' Alas! who can humble thee but 
Jesus, that says, Without me ye can do nothing? 
And how canst thou be broken, but by falling upon 
this chief corner stone ? If humiliation and contri- 
tion are parts of the salvation which he merited for 
thee, is it not the quintessence of self-righteousness to 
attempt to attain them without him? Away then, for 
ever away, with such a dangerous excuse. 

"Christ is a Redeemer most eminently fitted, a Sa- 
viour most completely qualified, to restore corrupt, guil- 
ty apostate mankind ; the vilest of the vile, the foulest of 
the foul not excepted. He is almighty; and therefore per- 
fectly able to restore lapsed powers, root up inveterate 
habits, and implant heavenly tempers. He is love it- 
self, compassionate, merciful, pardoning love, become 
incarnate for thee. And shall he, that spared not his 
own life, but delivered himself up for us all — shall 
he not with his own blood also freely give us all 
things ? 

" See, pardon for lost sinners is written, with 
pointed steel and streaming blood, on his pierced 
hands and feet. The double flood issuing from his 
wounded side more than seals the dear-bought bless- 
ing. The handwriting against us is nailed to his cross, 
and blotted out with his precious blood. His open 
arms invite, draw, and welcome returning prodigals; 



LIFE OF FLETCHER. 43 

and there encircled, the worst of sinners may find a 
safe and delightful retreat, a real and present heaven. 
Fly, then, miserable sinner, — if thy flesh is not brass, 
and thou canst not dwell with everlasting burnings, fly 
for shelter to the bloody cross of Jesus. There thou 
wilt meet him, who was, and is, and is to come, Im- 
manuel, God with us, who appeared as the Son of 
man, to make his soul an offering for sin, for thy sin; 
and save thy life from destruction, by losing his own 
in pangs, which made the sun turn pale, shook the 
earth, and caused the shattered graves to give up their 
dead." 

Had Mr. Fletcher even confined his public labours 
to the appointed services of the Sabbath, they would 
still have been highly beneficial. But a desire to be- 
come more extensively useful induced him during the 
week to expound the Scriptures in the different ham- 
lets in his parish, in which numbers of persons resid- 
ed, who from age, distance, or indifference to religion, 
seldom or never attended public worship. These gra- 
tuitous services were after a time frequented by per- 
sons from adjacent parts; some of whom being se- 
riously impressed with the truths delivered, felt, as 
might be expected, an attachment to the preacher, and 
a desire that their neighbours might participate in the 
same privileges. He accordingly accepted of invita- 
tions to preach in other parishes, until at length, 
without omitting his stated services at home, he re- 
gularly preached at places eight, ten, or sixteen miles 
off, though he could rarely reach his own home till 
after midnight. 

Such a course of itinerancy, though now universally 



44 LIFE OF FLETCHER, 

disapproved of by the clergy of the Establishment, 
was far from being a novel practice in England. "The 
Saxon bishops," says Mr. Southey, "used to travel 
through their dioceses; and where there were no 
churches, preach in the open air. At the beginning of 
our Reformation preachers were sent to itinerate in 
those counties where they were most needed ; for 
thus it was thought they would be more extensively 
useful, than if they were fixed upon particular cures. 
Four of Edward the Sixth's chaplains were thus em- 
ployed, of whom John Knox was one; and in the 
course of his rounds he frequently preached every 
day in the week. At that time it was designed that 
there should be in every diocese some persons who 
should take their circuit, and preach like Evangelists, 
as some of the favourers of the Reformation called 
them. Unhappy circumstances frustrated this among 
other good intentions of the fathers of our Church: but 
it was practised with great efficacy in a part of Eng- 
land, where it was greatly wanted, by Bernard Gilpin, 
one of the most apostolical men that later ages have 
produced." 

Some clergymen, who have been eminent for their 
public exertions, have been found remiss in other de- 
partments of their ministerial labour. But Mr. 
Fletcher was equally sedulous and effective in every 
office of the ministry, and particularly exemplary in 
his pastoral visits. He studied how best to go about 
doing good. In his daily walks through the parish 
there was hardly an individual, male or female, es- 
caped his notice; and he had for each " a word in sea- 
son," adapted to his character, circumstances, and ca- 



LIFE OF FLETCHER. 45 

pacity. No office of humanity, however humble, mean, 
disgusting, or perilous, did he shun. Whole nights 
he waited on the humblest and most infectious sick ; 
when none but himself had humanity, courage, or 
piety, to perform the offices of a nurse, a pastor, or a 
christian friend. Hence if he heard the knocker in 
the coldest winter night, his window was instantly 
opened; and when he understood either that some 
one was hurt in the pits, or that a neighbour was likely 
to die, no consideration was ever paid to the darkness 
of the night, or the severity of the weather: but this 
answer was uniformly given, " I will attend you im- 
mediately." On these occasions he administered ad- 
vice with fidelity and affection according to the cir- 
cumstances of his people, delivering the promises of 
the gospel to those whom he considered prepared for 
them, and earnestly praying for others that the mercy 
of God might be manifested to them, though it should 
be at the eleventh hour. 

His method of communicating instruction and com- 
fort to the sick may be collected from the following 
advice which he gave to a young lady; who was then 
resident in France for the benefit of her health. 

" The poor account your father has brought us of 
your health, and his apprehension of not seeing you 
any more before that solemn day when all people, na- 
tions, and tongues, shall stand together at the bar of 
God, make me venture (together with my love for 
you) to send you a few lines; and my earnest prayer 
to God is that they may be blessed to your soul. 

u First, then, my dear friend, let me beseech you 
not to flatter yourself with the hopes of living long 



46 LIFE OF FLETCHER. 

here on earth. These hopes fill us with worldly 
thoughts, and make us backward to prepare for our 
change. To see the bridge of life cut off behind us, 
and to have done with all the thoughts of repairing it 
to go back into the world, has a natural tendency to 
make us venture forward to the foot of the cross. 

" Secondly, reflect that though your earthly father 
loves you much; — witness the hundreds of miles he 
has gone for the bare prospect of your health; — yet, 
your heavenly Father loves you a thousand times bet- 
ter: and He is all wisdom, as well as all goodness. Al- 
low, then, such a loving gracious Father to choose for 
you ; and, if he chooses death, acquiesce, and say, as you 
can, Good is the will of the Lord; his choice must be 
best. 

" Thirdly, try to get nearer to the dear Redeemer. 
By his atoning blood, by his harmless life, and painful 
death, he has satisfied all the demands of the law and 
justice of God; by his resurrection he asserted the 
full discharge of all our spiritual debts ; by his ascen- 
sion into heaven, where he has gone to prepare us a 
place, he has opened a way to endless glory. By his 
powerful intercession and the merits of his blood, 
which plead continually for us, he keeps that way 
open. 

"Fourthly, when you have considered your lost 
state, as a sinner by nature, together with the great- 
ness, the fulness, the freeness, and the suitableness, 
of Christ's salvation ; be not afraid to venture upon 
and trust in him. Cast yourself on him in frequent 
acts of reliance, and stay your soul on him by means 
of his promises. Pray much for faith: and be not 



LIFE OF FLETCHER. 47 

afraid of accepting, using, and thanking God for a 
little. The smoking flax he will not quench; pray 
only that he would blow it up into a flame of light 
and love. 

" Fifthly, beware of impatience, repining, and pee- 
vishness, which are the sins of sick people. Be gen- 
tle, easy to be pleased, and resigned as the bleeding 
Lamb of God. Wrong tempers indulged grieve, if 
they do not quench the Spirit. 

" Sixthly, do not repine at being in a strange coun- 
try, far from your friends; and if your going to France 
does not answer the end proposed to your body, it 
will answer a spiritual end to your soul. God suffers 
the broken reeds of your acquaintance to be out of 
your reach, that you may not catch at them ; and that 
you may at once cast your lonesome soul on the bosom 
of Him who fills heaven and earth. 

" Many pray earnestly for you, that you may acquit 
yourself, living or dying, in ease or in pain, as a wise 
virgin, and as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. But 
above all, Jesus, the Captain of your salvation, and the 
High Priest of your profession, intercedes mightily 
for you. To his pity, love and power, I recommend 
you. May he bless you, my dear friend ; lift up the 
light of his countenance upon you ; and give you 
peace, and courage, and repentance, and faith and 
hope, and patient love, both now and evermore. " 

Such admirable advice, so seasonably, and so affec- 
tionately administered, could scarcely fail to be accom- 
panied with a blessing. 

Some time after he wrote thus to Mr. Ireland, the 
father of the young lady: — " Uncertain as I am whe- 



48 LIFE OP FLETCHER, 

ther your daughter be yet alive, or whether the Lord 
hath called her from this vale of darkness and tears, 
I know not what to say to you on the subject, but 
this, — that our heavenly Father appoints all things for 
the best. If her days of suffering are prolonged, it is 
to honour her with a conformitv to the crucified Jesus; 
if they are shortened, she will have drunk all her cup 
of affliction ; and I flatter myself that she has found 
at the bottom of it not the bitterness and the gall of 
her sins, but the honey and wine of our divine 
Saviour's righteousness, and the consolations of his 
Spirit. 

"I had lately some views of death, and it appeared 
to me in the most brilliant colours. What is it to die, 
but to open our eyes after the disagreeable dream of 
this life; after the black sleep in w T hich we are buried 
in this earth? It is to break the prison of corruptible 
flesh and blood into which sin has cast us; to draw 
aside the curtain ; to cast off the material veil which 
prevents us from seeing the Supreme Beauty and 
Goodness face to face. It is to quit our polluted and 
tattered raiment to be invested with robes of honour 
and glory ; and to behold the Sun of righteousness in 
brightness, without an interposing cloud. my dear 
friend, how lovely is death, when we look at it in 
Jesus Christ! To die is one of the greatest privileges 
of the christian. 

"If Miss Ireland is still living, tell her a thousand 
times that Jesus is the resurrection and the life ; that 
he hath vanquished and disarmed death ; that he hath 
brought life and immortality to light ; and that all 
things are ours, whether life or death, eternity or 



LIFE OF FLETCHER. 49 

time. These are the great truths upon which she 
ought to risk, or rather to repose, her soul with full 
assurance. Every thing is shadow and a lie in com- 
parison of the reality of the Gospel. If your daugh- 
ter is dead, believe in Jesus, and you shall find her 
again in Him, who fills all in all, who encircles the 
material and spiritual world in his arms, — in the im- 
mense bosom of his Divinity. 

"I have not time to write to Mrs. Ireland: but I 
entreat her to keep her promise, and to inform me 
what victories she has gained over the world, the 
flesh, and sin. Surely, when a daughter is dead, or 
dying, it is high time for a father and a mother to 
die to all things below, and aspire in good earnest to 
that eternal life which God has given us in Christ 
Jesus." 

But Mr. Fletcher's attention, as has been already 
observed, was not confined to the sick. Like Igna- 
tius, the venerable bishop of Antioch, he appears to 
have been acquainted with almost every individual of 
his flock, and to have watched over them with more 
than paternal tenderness. He called upon them in 
their different families, and diligently taught them 
from house to house; taking especial care to adapt 
the mode, as well as the matter, of his instructions, 
to the age, and rank, and character, of each indi- 
vidual. In some of these pastoral visits a whole 
family has burst into tears, and with one accord ex- 
pressed their desire to devote themselves unreserved- 
ly to the service of God. And in other houses, 
where prejudice or impiety had barred the door 
against his admission, a secret reverence was generally 

E 



50 LIFE OF FLETCHER, 

entertained for his character; and he himself is said 
never to have passed such families without a silent 
prayer that the gate of mercy might not be closed 
against them. 

He regarded, indeed, the immoral and profane as 
of all objects the most miserable; and hence he adopt- 
ed a variety of methods, some of which were not a 
little characteristic of the man, to warn them of 
the danger of their course, and to induce them to for- 
sake it. 

A poor collier, now living in Madeley, and upwards 
of eighty years of age, relates that in the former part 
of his life he was exceedingly profligate, and that Mr. 
Fletcher frequently sought opportunities to converse 
with him on his awful state. Being, however, aware 
of his pious vicar's intentions, he was accustomed, as 
soon as he saw him, to run home with all speed, and 
bolt the door before Mr. Fletcher could reach it : and 
thus, for many months together, he escaped his de- 
served reproofs. The holy man, however, still perse- 
vering in his attempts, on one occasion gained posses- 
sion of the house of this determined sinner. The 
poor man, awed by the presence of his minister, and 
softened by the persuasive kindness of his manners, 
was greatly affected, and received those religious im- 
pressions which soon ended in a thorough change of 
his character. He is now nearly blind: and, with nu- 
merous bodily infirmities, is evidently tottering over 
the grave: but he is still, in his humble station, walk- 
ing consistently in the fear of the Lord. 

To another hardened individual, who had long re- 
fused to profit by his admonitions, and who in all 



LIFE OF FLETCHER. 51 

probability was little able to enter into any other 
kind of reasoning, he said, in a solemn tone, — 
" Well, John, you must either turn, or burn." While 
many a refined observation, like a polished shaft, 
would have found, perhaps, an easy entrance into 
his mind, but which might as easily have been ex- 
tracted; this homely but pointed phrase, like a 
barbed arrow, fastened itself within him; and he 
never found any rest in his spirit till he actually turn- 
ed from sin to God. 

Another of his parishioners, who is also still living, 
relates the following characteristic circumstance: — 
When a young man, he was married by Mr. Fletch- 
er, who said to him as soon as the service was con- 
cluded, and he was about to make the accustomed en- 
try, — "Well, William, you have had your name 
entered into our register once before this/' " Yes, 
Sir, at my baptism." " And now, your name will be 
entered a second time: — you have no doubt thought 
much about your present step, and made proper pre- 
parations for it in a great many different ways." '* Yes, 
Sir." "Recollect, however, that a third entry of 
your name, — the register of your burial, will sooner 
or later take place. Think, then, about death ; and 
make preparation for that also, lest it overtake you 
as a thief in the night." This person also is now 
walking in the ways of the Lord; and states, that 
he often adverts to this and other things which this 
holy man found frequent occasion to say to him. — 
Many similar anecdotes are related by the older of 
his parishioners, all tending to show how watchful 
he was to seize every occasion which might be turned 



52 LIFE OF FLETCHER. 

into usefulness; and with what readiness and ver- 
satility of powers he adapted himself to their various 
stations and feelings. 

It was from the same benevolent motives that he 
was accustomed fearlessly to burst into the midst of 
their rude revels and riotous meetings. On these 
occasions his reproofs were so authoritative, and yet 
so mild and friendly, that they were generally re- 
ceived with silent submission, and not unfrequently 
attended with the most beneficial effects. Sometimes, 
however, he was compelled to acknowledge that his 
well-meant endeavours were unsuccessful^ and that 
the impotent barrier which he opposed to their pro- 
fligacy only made the torrent rise and swell, without 
stopping its current. 

A profligate in a low situation of life, who had 
been often reproved by this faithful pastor, vowed he 
would never more enter into his church. This vow 
he strictly kept for years. One day having attended 
a corpse to the church-yard, he stopped in the porch 
during the service. After the funeral was over, Mr. 
Fletcher, who knew his vow and had remarked his 
conduct, took him aside and expostulated with him 
in the kindest manner, exhorting him to adopt a new 
course of life. But finding him quite hardened and 
brutal, he at length said to him in the most solemn 
manner, " I call heaven and earth to witness this day, 
that I am clear of your blood ; henceforth it is upon 
your own head. If you will not come to God's house 
upon your own feet, prepare to come there on your 
neighbours' shoulders." Mr. Fletcher at the time had 
no design of prophesying evil: but spoke merely from 



LIFE OF FLETCHER. 53 

a deep sense of the brevity and uncertainty of life. 
He was, however, immediately so struck with the 
force of his own language, that he could not refrain 
from trembling, under a strong presentiment of im- 
pending evil. The man fell ill in a fortnight: during 
his illness he was visited by Mr. Fletcher, without his 
being able to produce any satisfactory effect " He 
seemed," said he, " tame as a wolf in a trap. May 
God have turned him into a sheep at his last hours." 
The poor man was buried within three months of his 
attending his neighbour's funeral, on the very spot 
on which they stood when Mr. Fletcher expostulated 
with him. 

The publicans and colliers were his special enemies. 
To preach against drunkenness, and to cut their purse, 
were considered by the former as the same thing; 
and the latter were indignant at his opposition to 
their brutal amusements.* The rage of the publicans 

* M A club of men," said he, " blow by the hour clouds of smoke out of 
their mouth, or wash it down their throat with repeated draughts of intoxi- 
cating liquors. The strong fumes have already reached their heads : and 
while some stagger home, others triumphantly keep the field of excess; 
though one is already stamped with the heaviness of the ox, another work- 
ed up to the fierceness and roar of the lion, and a third brought down to 
the filthiness of the vomiting dog. 

11 In one place inhuman sport is afforded by an unhappy bird, fixed at 
some distance, that the sons of cruelty may exercise their merciless skill, 
in its lingering and painful destruction ^ or by two of them trained up and 
high fed for the battle, to whose feet steel talons, sharper than those of the 
eagle, are barbarously fastened. In another place, a multitude of specta- 
tors is entertained by two brawny men, who unmercifully knock one ano- 
ther down, as if they were oxen appointed for the slaughter, and continue 
the savage play, till one, with his flesh bruised, and his bones shattered, 
bleeding, and gasping as in the pangs of death, yields to his antagonist, and 
thus puts an end to the shocking sport. 

*' But it is perhaps a different spectacle, that recommends itself to the 



54 ; LIFE Or FLETCHER. 

generally spent itself in impotent revilings: but the 
fury of the colliers was near being attended with more 
serious consequences. One day, while a mob of them 
in a state of intoxication were baiting a bull near a 
place where he was expected to preach, they deter- 
mined to pull him off his horse; set the dogs upon 
him; and, in their own phrase, " bait the parson." 
But, just as he was going to set out, notice was brought 
to him that a funeral was on the road ; and the pre- 
vious information respecting it had, through mistake, 
been omitted. He waited, in consequence, some time 
for its arrival ; and, after interring the corpse, pro- 
ceeded to the spot, where he met his friends, and went 
through the duty without the least molestation ; for 
before he came the bull had broken loose, and over- 
turned the booth in w r hich many of them were drink- 
ing ; and the rabble, being intimidated by the disaster, 
had quietly dispersed. 

But drunken colliers and self-interested publicans 
were not his only opposers, The voluptuary detested 
his temperance and self-denial; the proud poured con- 
tempt on his humility and condescension ; the licen- 
tious were offended at his gravity and strictness; and 
the formal were roused to indignation by that spirit of 
zeal and devotion which influenced his whole conduct 
and conversation. And to these opponents must be 

bloody taste of our baptized heathens. Fierce dogs are excited by fiercer 
men, with fury to fasten upon the nose, or tear out the eyes, of a poor con- 
fined animal, which pierces the sky with his painful and lamentable bellow- 
ings, whilst the surrounding savage mob rends the very heavens with the 
most horrid imprecations, and repeated shouts of applauding joy : sporting 
themselves with that very misery, which human nature, were it not de- 
plorably corrupted, would teach them to alleviate." 



LIFE OF PLETCHER. 55 

added some of the neighbouring clergy and magis- 
trates, who, with a greater show of reason, objected to 
his well-intended, but unauthorized, interference in 
their parishes. 

In spite, however, of the opposition which his piety 
and peculiarities jointly excited, he gradually won 
upon the people by the invincible benevolence which 
was manifested in the whole tenor of his life. In the 
meantime, his church, which at first had been so thinly 
attended that he was discouraged at the smallness of 
the congregation, began to overflow; and, what must 
have been to him a source of far greater comfort, he 
saw an effectual change take place in many of his flock, 
and a restraint from the commission of open sin begin 
to prevail throughout the parish. 

Madeley abounded with persons who, either from 
improvidence or misfortune, were reduced to a state of 
extreme indigence. Over this destitute part of his 
flock Mr. Fletcher watched with peculiar concern. 
The profusion of his benevolence is indeed scarcely 
credible. The whole rents of his small patrimonial 
estate were set apart for charitable uses; and he drew 
so liberally from his other funds as at times almost to 
deprive himself of the necessaries of life. " That he 
might feed the hungry," says Mr. Gilpin, " he led a 
life of abstinence and self-denial ; that he might cover 
the naked, he clothed himself in the most homely at- 
tire; and, that he might cherish such as were perishing 
in a state of extreme distress, he submitted to hard- 
ships of a very trying nature." 

His self-denial for the sake of the poor was indeed 
so systematic, and embraced such a variety of particu- 



56 LIFE OP FLETCHER* 

lars, that mere general observations will convey a very 
inadequate idea to the mind. A. few instances, there- 
fore, as specimens, are subjoined. It is stated by 
some of his parishioners, who were occasionally wit- 
nesses of his private habits, that while he remained in 
a single life he did not choose to indulge himself with 
more than one fire in his house; and that during the 
winter he would sit for days together in his study with 
something wrapped round his legs to defend himself 
from the inclemency of the weather. Mrs. Fletcher also 
relates that he would sometimes say to her, — " Cannot 
we do without beer? Let us drink water and eat less 
meat. Let our necessities give way to the extremities 
of the poor." It is also mentioned that the tears have 
sometimes come into his eyes, on account of his hav- 
ing to pay the postage for letters upon immaterial sub- 
jects, at a time when he had only a few shillings in 
the house, which he was going to distribute among his 
poor neighbours. 

On one occasion a pious man who was brought into 
very distressing circumstances, applied to him for re- 
lief, when, it should seem, his finances were so ex- 
hausted that he could not help him by any adequate 
pecuniary donation. At length, recollecting the pew- 
ter service which was placed on his kitchen shelves, 
like one who had found great spoil, he hastened to col- 
lect it together, and brought it to the poor man, say- 
ing, in his usual pointed manner, " This will be of 
service to you, and / can do without it. A wooden 
trencher will serve me quite as well." Such uncom- 
mon instances of liberality, it is readily allowed, are 
not only not enjoined by our religion,, but in many 



LIFE OF FLETCHER. 57 

supposable cases would be highly censurable. When, 
however, it is recollected that Mr. Fletcher spent the 
greater part of his life in a single state, and that after 
his marriage his wife cordially seconded him in these 
personal deprivations, it will be very difficult to find 
any just cause for censure. 

No part of his conduct was more conspicuous than 
his attention to devotional exercises; and especially 
to that most important duty, — -prayer, without which 
he neither formed any design, nor entered upon any 
concern; neither visited nor received a visitant. Mr. 
Gilpin, the present amiable vicar of Wrockwardine, 
(to whose interesting character of Mr. Fletcher the 
writer of the present narrative is very considerably 
indebted) gives the following account of his own intro- 
duction to him: — •" Before," says he, "I was of suffi- 
cient age to take holy orders, I thankfully embraced 
the offered privilege of spending a few months beneath 
the roof of this exemplary man, to whom I was at that 
time an entire stranger; and I well remember how so- 
lemn an impression was made upon my heart by the 
manner in which he received me. He met me at his 
door with a look of inexpressible benignity; and, con- 
ducting me by the hand into his house, intimated a de- 
sire to lead me immediately into the presence of that 
God to whom the government of his little family was 
ultimately submitted. He instantly fell upon his knees, 
and poured out an earnest prayer that my present visit 
might be rendered both advantageous and comfortable, 
that the secret of the Lord might rest upon our com- 
mon tabernacle, and that our society might be crowned 
by an intimate fellowship with that promised Imma- 



58 LIFE OF FLETCHER. 

nuel in whom all the families of the earth are called to 
inherit a blessing." 

But his attention to secret prayer was, if possible, 
still more memorable. "Hiscloset,"continuesthe same 
writer, u was the favourite retirement to which he 
constantly retreated, whenever his public duties allow- 
ed him a season of leisure. Here he was privily hid- 
den, as in the presence of God; here he would either 
patiently wait for, or joyfully triumph, in the loving- 
kindness of the Lord ; here he would plunge himself 
into the depths of humiliation; and from hence, at 
other seasons, as from another Pisgah, he would take 
a large survey of the vast inheritance which is reserved 
for the saints. Here he would ratify his solemn en- 
gagements to God; and here, like the good king Heze- 
kiah, he would spread the various circumstances of his 
people at the feet of their common Lord. In all cases 
of difficulty he would retire to this consecrated place 
to ask counsel of the Most High; and here, in times of 
uncommon distress, he has continued during whole 
nights in prayer before God." 

Very closely connected with this his habit and spirit 
of prayer, was the power which he so pre-eminently 
possessed, of living as in the presence of God by ha- 
bitual recollection. It was this which shed such a pe- 
culiar lustre around the whole of his actions, that his 
intercourse with his fellow-men seemed almost like 
that of some angelic being who for a season was so- 
journing among them. Whether he prayed, or preach- 
ed, or conversed, or transacted the most trivial concern 
of common life, there seemed to be no suspension of 
his intercourse with the skies. All was done as in the 



LIFE OF FLETCHER. 59 

presence of his God and Saviour; — all with an evident 
reference to that important truth — " Thou God seest 



me." 



"Recollection," says he, in a letter to a pious lady 
of his acquaintance, "is a dwelling within ourselves; 
a being abstracted from the creature, and turned to- 
wards God. To maintain this recollection beware of 
engaging too deeply, and beyond what is necessary, in 
outward things: beware of suffering your affections to 
be entangled by worldly vanities, your imagination to 
amuse itself with unprofitable objects, and of indulg- 
ing yourself in the commission of what are called 
small faults. 

" For want of continuing in a recollected frame all 
the day, our times of prayer are frequently dry and 
useless, imagination prevails, and the heart wanders ; 
whereas we pass easily from recollection to delightful 
prayer. Without this spirit there can be no useful 
self-denial, nor can we know ourselves: but where it 
dwells, it makes the soul all eye, all ear; traces and 
discovers sin, repels its first assaults, or crushes it in its 
earliest risings. Recollection is a castle, an inviola- 
ble fortress, against the world and the devil; it renders 
all times and places alike, and is the habitation where 
Christ and his bride dwell. 

"I give you these hints, not to set Christ aside, 
but that you may, according to the light and power 
given to you, take these stones and place them upon 
the chief corner-stone, and cement them with the 
blood of Jesus, until the superstructure in some mea- 
sure answers to the excellence of the foundation." 

Thus we find that his feelings, while realizing the 



60 LIFE OF FLETCHEtl. 

Divine presence, were not those of a fearful slave, sub- 
jected to the scrutinizing eye of a severe master; but 
of an affectionate and obedient child, delighting in the 
intercourse of a kind parent, animated by a sense of 
his presence, and looking to him for direction and a 
blessing on every thing which occurred. His spirit, 
like the magnetic needle, moved habitually towards its 
accustomed point; and if, through any sudden or pow- 
erful influence, it was momentarily turned either to 
the right or to the left, it never ceased to vibrate till 
it had regained its true position. 

It is a matter of regret that so few persons ever aim 
at obtaining this spirit of recollection, — this important 
habit of realizing the presence of God. The attempt, 
if steadily persevered in, would, doubtless, be produc- 
tive of similar effects with those discoverable in this 
very holy man. For, if we easily imbibe the spirit 
and adopt the manners of those with whom we con- 
stantly converse; if a painter, who is attentive to the 
original which he places before him, generally succeeds 
in obtaining a correct resemblance; — is it not rational 
to conclude that, if we were to live more as in the pre- 
sence of God, we should insensibly be acquiring the 
same Spirit, and be daily more and more conformed 
to his image? 



LIFE OF FLETCHER. 61 



CHAPTER IV. 



HIS SERMON AGAINST POPERY TOUR ON THE CONTINENT RE- 
CEPTION AT NYON. 

The concern which Mr. Fletcher felt for the spiritual 
welfare of his flock, in connexion with his ardent de- 
sire to promote the cause of Christ, induced him to 
welcome other pious ministers to his parish, and also 
to make excursions himself not merely to places in 
his immediate neighbourhood, but occasionally to more 
distant parts of the kingdom. 

About the year 1776 he says, "the coming of Mr 
Wesley's preachers into my parish gives me no unea- 
siness. We need not make two parties. I know but 
one heaven below, and that is Jesus'slove: let us both 
go and abide in it; and when we have gathered as 
many as we can to go with us, too many will still stay 
behind." In the following spring he addressed the 
celebrated George Whitfield in these characteristic 
terms: "Your mentioning my poor ministrations 
among your congregation opens again a wound of 
shame that was but Tialf healed. I feel the need of 
asking God> you, and your hearers pardon, for weak*- 



62 LIFE OF FLETCHER. 

firing the glorious matter of the gospel by my wretch- 
ed broken manner; and spoiling the heavenly power 
of it, by the uncleannessof my heart and lips. I should 
be glad to assist you sometime this year: but I see no 
opening, nor the least prospect of any. What between 
the dead and the living, a parish ties one down more 
than a wife. If I could go any where this year, it 
would be to Yorkshire, to accompany Lady Hunting- 
don, according to a design that I had half formed last 
year: but I fear I shall be debarred even from this. I 
set out, God willing, to-morrow morning, forTrevecca 
to meet her Ladyship there, and to show her the way 
to Madeley. 

"I rejoice that though you are sure of heaven, you 
have still a desire to ' inherit the earth/ by being a 
4 peace-maker. ' Many ask me whether you will not 
come to have some fruit here also. What must I an- 
swer them? I and many more complain of a stagna- 
tion in the work. What must we do? Every thing 
buds and blossoms about us, yet our winter is not over. 
I thought Mr. Newton, who has been three weeks in 
Shropshire, would have brought the turtle-dove along 
with him: but I could not prevail upon him to come 
to this poor Capernaum. I think I hardly ever met his 
fellow for a judicious spirit. Still, what hath God 
done in him and me! I am out of hell, and mine 
eyes have seen also something of his salvation. Though 
I gladly yield to him and all my brethren, yet I must 
and will contend, that my being in the way to heaven 
makes me as rich a monument of mercy as he, or any 
of them. that I may feel the wonderful effect of 
the patience that is manifested towards me. Lord, 
break me; and make me a vessel capable of bearing 



LIFE OF FLETCHER. 63 

thy name, and the sweet savour of it, to my fellow 
sinners!" 

Hitherto Mr. Fletcher could not be prevailed upon 
to revisit his native country. After ten years, how- 
ever, of indefatigable exertion at Madeley, he yielded 
to the reiterated desires of his relatives. In a letter 
to his friend Mr. Ireland, dated March 26, 1769, he 
says, " I shall be obliged to go to Switzerland this year 
or the next, if I live, and the Lord permit. I have 
there a brother, a worthy man, who threatens to leave 
his wife and children to come and pay me a visit, if I 
do not go and see him myself. It is some time since 
our gracious God has convinced him of sin, and I have 
by me some of his letters which give me great plea- 
sure: this circumstance has more weight with me than 
the settlement of my affairs." 

It was in consequence agreed that at the commence- 
ment of the following year he should accompany Mr, 
Ireland, who was induced from private business to go 
to the south of France at that period. " Two reasons," 
observed he, in a letter to that gentleman, " to say 
nothing of the pleasure of your company, engage me 
to go with you to Montpelier, — a desire to visit some 
poor Huguenots in the south of France, and the need 
I have to recover a little French before I go to con- 
verse with my countrymen." 

When he was on the eve of his departure, the Ro- 
man Catholics opened a chapel in Madeley, and drew 
over to their communion some individuals of his flock. 
Under these circumstances he considered it his duty to 
oppose them, and for that purpose to delay his journey 
for a few weeks. He accordingly preached a sermeto 



£4 LIFEOP PLETCHER. ' 

in which he ably contrasted the doctrines of the apos- 
tles with the errors of the Papists. The apostles, he 
observed, represent the Holy Scriptures as a sufficient 
rule of faith and practice: but the Papists maintain 
that tradition is to be received with the same venera- 
tion, and that those are accursed who knowingly con- 
temn it. The apostles declare that the one living and 
true God is the sole object of religious w r orship; 
whereas the Papists enjoin the worship of the host, 
and of angels, saints, images and relics. The apostles 
affirm that Christ is the only Mediator between God 
and man: but the Papists assert that there are many 
mediators to whom they are wont to have recourse, as 
the Virgin Mary, St. Peter, and departed saints in 
general. The apostles teach us that there is no merit, 
strictly speaking, in us, or in our works or sufferings ; 
that at the best we are unprofitable servants; and that 
all merit is in Christ, His life and death, His atonement 
and intercession ; that there is no propitiatory sacrifice 
butthat of His cross, and no purgatory but His blood and 
Spirit ; whereas the church of Rome, by her doctrine of 
indulgences, penances, and works of supererogation, as 
well as by that of the sacrifice of the mass and of purgato- 
ry, evidently depart from that faith, affirming that the 
works of justified persons do truly deserve eternal 
life, and pronouncing him accursed who denies that 
such works merit an increase of grace here, and eter- 
nal life hereafter. The apostles declare that the Holy 
Spirit is the only source of all inward or outward ho- 
liness: but the Papists maintain that the Virgin Mary is 
also a source of grace to the faithful, being accustomed to 
address her in these words, u Hail, Mary, full of grace; 



EIFE OF FLETCHER. 65 

the Lord be with thee, thy grace with me." As to 
the commandments, he said, — the Papists mangle the 
first; curtail, or openly break the second; and evidently 
contradict and violate the tenth, the Council of Trent 
having pronounced them accursed who say that concu- 
piscence is sin. As to prayer, it is perverted by them, 
being ridiculously addressed to saints and angels, and 
that by means of beads and strings ; as well as fre- 
quently offered for the dead; and, when in public, 
generally uttered in an unknown tongue. The two 
sacraments, he continued, are corrupted and abused by 
them; — that of the Lord's Supper by their doctrine of 
transubstantiation, by their considering it as a sacrifice 
for the dead, and also by their denying the cup to the 
laity. The other sacrament is rendered ridiculous, 
partly by their baptism of bells, and partly by their 
joining it with sundry foolish and unscriptural ceremo- 
nies. Marriage, he continued, is constituted a sacra- 
ment without any authority from Scripture ; and yet 
is forbidden to their clergy. 

The Romanists, who were previously sufficiently ir- 
ritated, now openly professed their indignation. A 
man, who acted as their spokesman, cried out several 
times to the people, as they were leaving church, that 
there was not a word of truth in the whole sermon ; 
and then, turning to Mr. Fletcher, assured him that he 
would shortly produce a gentleman who would refute 
it, as well as a pamphlet which Mr. Fletcher had dis- 
tributed. These threats, however, they never thought 
proper to realize, whilst the bold and well-timed re- 
monstrance of the zealous vicar prevented them from 

f2 



66 LIFE OF FLETCHER. 

making any considerable progress in that neighbour- 
hood. 

As soon as this storm was blown over, Mr. Fletcher 
and his friend Ireland commenced their intended jour- 
ney. They appear to have travelled immediately to 
the south of France; and, after they had remained in 
that neighbourhood a few weeks, to have proceeded to 
Italy, and taken Switzerland on their return to Eng- 
land. Mr. Fletcher's recent controversy with the Par 
pists at Madeley induced him, during his journey, to 
pay particular attention to the state of that community. 
In order that he might thoroughly ascertain their reli- 
gious opinions, he attended their sermons, visited their 
convents and monasteries, conversed with the best in- 
formed persons among them, and accurately observed 
their various ceremonies and superstitions. 

On their arrival in the south of France, Mr. Fletcher 
for a short time left his fellow-traveller, that he might 
pay his intended visit to the Huguenots, the name by 
which the French Protestants had long been desig- 
nated. The ancestors of these poor people had for 
ages been more or less the victims of intolerance and 
persecution. Their implacable enemy, Louis XIV. at 
first contented himself with debarring them of all 
marks of royal favour, restraining them in the per- 
formance of their public worship to certain privileged 
places, and offering them every inducement to embrace 
the Romish faith. At length, however, becoming less 
scrupulous in his plans for their conversion, he revoked 
the edict of Nantes, deprived them of all civil and reli- 
gious privileges, and quartered his dragoons among thera 
to compel them to profess the national creed. In conse- 



LIFE OF FLETCHER. 67 

quenceof these tyrannical proceedings, incredible multi- 
tudes fled to other countries for refuge, while such as re- 
mained in France were pursued like wild beasts, without 
remission, and without pity. The most rigorous mea- 
sures at the same time were adopted to prevent further 
emigration; and immense numbers, who, goaded on to 
madness, had taken up arms in the fastnesses of the 
mountains of the Cevennes, were slain in the field, and 
their leaders racked on the wheel, and burnt alive. 

From pious but somewhat romantic feelings, Mr. 
Fletcher determined to visit them on foot. " Shall I," 
said he to his friend, who remonstrated with him on 
his intended mode of travelling, " make a visit on 
horseback, and at ease, to those poor cottager?, whose 
fathers were hunted along yonder rocks, like par- 
tridges upon the mountains! No: in order to secure 
a more friendly reception among them, I will visit 
them under the plainest appearance, and with my staff 
in my hand." 

Accordingly he set out alone on this christian expe- 
dition; and after travelling till it was nearly dark, he 
obtained, though not without some difficulty, permis- 
sion to spend the night under the roof of a cottager. 
But the family were in a short time so charmed with 
the conversation and manners of their guest, that they 
considered the best provisions their house could afford 
too mean to set before him. After a hasty repast, the 
conversation was renewed, and at length closed by 
prayer. While Mr. Fletcher was engaged in pouring 
out his fervent supplications to God, the whole family 
were uncommonly affected, and in the morning took 
leave of him with mingled feelings of veneration and 



68 LIFE OF FLETCHER. 

regret. Such was the account given by the cottager 
himself, who immediately circulated among his neigh- 
bours that he had nearly refused to admit a stranger 
into his house, who proved to be rather an angel than 
a man. It is an interesting circumstance that this 
family was of the Romish church. 

Mr. Fletcher next proceeded to a small town, 
where he was hospitably entertained by a minister to 
whom he had a letter of introduction. Here he was 
received by the more serious Protestants with open 
arms, and exercised his ministry among them with 
much freedom and success. He conversed with their 
elders, admonished their youth, visited their sick, and 
diligently exhorted and instructed them from house to 
house. 

In the course of his progress through these moun- 
tains, Mr. Fletcher spent some days with a person who 
rarely uttered a sentence without an oath. He ac- 
cordingly addressed this unthinking creature in his 
usual pointed and pathetic manner, and not without 
effect. The man was deeply penetrated with the de- 
served rebuke; confessed his error; expressed a se- 
rious concern for the irregularity of his past conduct ; 
and, in after life, whenever he was in danger of being 
carried away by an undue warmth of temper, the 
mere recollection of his saintly guest immediately tran- 
quilized his mind. 

Mr. Fletcher shortly after rejoined his friend Mr. 
Ireland, who procured for him a Protestant church in 
the neighbourhood of Marseilles. But, during the 
whole of the preceding week he felt such an unusual 
shrinking from the duties in which he was expected 



LIFE OF FLETCHER. 69 

to be engaged, that nothing but a regard for propriety- 
prevented him from declining to officiate. He had 
scarcely, however, entered the church when all his 
fears vanished. In prayer he manifested the greatest 
freedom of utterance ; and was so peculiarly assisted 
in his sermon, as to astonish all who heard him. 
The whole congregation, among whom were several 
ministers, was exceedingly affected; and many of 
them were in tears during the greater part of the 
service. 

From Marseilles they proceeded by sea to Antibes, 
where, meeting with a young Genoese who was on 
his return to Genoa, they accepted the offer of his 
company, as they were travelling in the same direc- 
tion. After a short conversation, Mr. Fletcher was 
grieved by discovering that his new companion had 
imbibed skeptical notions; and at the same time he se- 
cretly determined to improve the present opportunity, 
by attempting to lead him from the grossness of ma- 
terialism to the spirituality of the gospel. 

Contrary winds, which detained them at Monacho, 
enabled him immediately to enter upon this truly 
christian design. At first the young man maintained 
his sentiments with considerable warmth, and with a 
strong persuasion that every attempt to refute them 
would be ineffectual. In the course, however, of a 
few hours he was unexpectedly staggered by the for- 
cible arguments of his more enlightened opponent; 
and, after two days' debate, he candidly acknowledged 
himself vanquished, and expressed a desire that the 
controversy might be turned into a liberal inquiry 
respecting the nature of revealed religion in general. 



70 LIFE OF FLETCHER. 

This was a task for which Mr. Fletcher was ad- 
mirably qualified. He explained the Scriptures in a 
manner peculiar to himself, equally intelligible and 
sublime, and gradually opened before his astonished 
companion a boundless prospect of grace and glory. 
The young man, who was no less affected with the 
parental concern than the masterly skill of his in- 
structor, requested permission to attend their morn- 
ing and evening prayers. On these occasions Mr. 
Fletcher expounded such portions of Scripture as 
were adapted to his circumstances; and on their ar- 
rival at Genoa, finding that the attention of his young 
disciple was unabated, he added various directions for 
the regulation of his future conduct. He exhorted 
him especially to search the Scriptures, and to con- 
tinue instant in prayer. He set before him the trials 
and difficulties, which would probably attend his spi- 
ritual progress, together with the advantages and con- 
solations which must necessarily accompany a reli- 
gious life. And taking advantage of the superb and 
costly palaces which decorate that magnificent city, 
he guarded him against the devices of an ensnaring 
world, and pointed out the vanity of its richest gifts. 
At length, after having received many testimonies of 
the young men's sincere regard and gratitude, he took 
an affectionate leave of him under the delightful im- 
pression of his having been made the honoured instru- 
ment of a genuine and effectual conversion. 

During the same journey, Mr. Fletcher was en- 
gaged in a similar controversy with a more formidable 
opponent. A gentleman of considerable information, 
but unhappily infected with infidel principles, stopped 



LIFE OF FLETCHER. 71 

at, the same hotel with our travellers ; and, after hav- 
ing heard that he was in company with a zealous de- 
fender of Christianity, he carelessly threw down the 
gauntlet before him. Mr. Fletcher modestly accept- 
ed the challenge; and their conversation soon became 
serious. Every argument was proposed with the 
greatest caution, and every proposition examined with 
the nicest accuracy. Their debate was continued, at 
intervals, for the space of a week; during which 
period our pious traveller repeatedly overcame his 
antagonist, who regularly lost his temper and his 
cause together. In the course of this controversy Mr. 
Fletcher took a view of the christian's enviable life, 
his consolation in trouble, and his tranquillity in dan- 
ger; together with his absolute superiority over all 
the evils of life and the horrors of death ; interspersing 
his remarks with many affectionate admonitions and 
powerful persuasives to a rational dependence upon the 
truths of the gospel. 

In consequence of this memorable debate, the un- 
successful disputant conceived so exalted an idea of 
his opponent's character, that he never afterwards 
mentioned his name without peculiar veneration and 
regard. And as a proof of the sincerity of his pro- 
fessions, when he met Mr. Fletcher some years after 
at Marseilles, he received him into his house, showed 
him every civility, and listened to his conversation on 
religious subjects with the greatest attention. 

On their arrival at Rome, Mr. Fletcher's attention 
was deeply arrested by the superstitions of the Pa- 
pists; and, had it not been for his more prudent com- 
panion, it is probable that his zeal would have over- 



72 LIFE OF FLETCHER. 

come his judgment, and involved them in serious 
difficulties. As it was, Mr. Ireland considered that 
their lives were frequently in danger by his pointed 
observations. On one occasion, when they casually 
met the Pope surrounded by a kneeling populace, Mr. 
Fletcher could scarcely refrain from bearing a public 
testimony against Antichrist; and on another occasion, 
when they were going to attend the Pope's chapel, 
Mr. Ireland deemed it necessary to extort a promise 
from his friend not to express any public censure of 
what they should see or hear. 

The sight of the Appian Way, which they traversed 
on their road to Naples, excited in Mr. Fletcher's 
mind the most lively recolleetions of the circum- 
stances connected with it in sacred history. Before 
they entered upon it, he ordered the postillion to 
stop, assuring his friend that he could not bear to 
ride over that ground upon which the apostle Paul 
had formerly walked, chained to a soldier. He ac- 
cordingly alighted from the carriage ; and with his 
hat in his hand, and his eyes uplifted to heaven, he 
walked along the road, praising God in a most fervent 
manner for that light, those truths, and that influence 
of the Holy Spirit, which were continued to the pre- 
sent day. He rejoiced that England was favoured 
with the gospel in its purity; and devoutly implored 
that Rome might again have the truths of the gospel 
declared in those churches which were disgraced with 
a worship little superior to that of ancient Athens. 
He then took a view of the exemplary life, the exten- 
sive travels, and the astonishing labours, of the great 
Apostle. He recounted his sufferings when a prisoner^ 






LIFE OF FLETCHER. 73 

and his trials when at liberty ; his rigid self-denial, 
and his voluntary poverty, for the furtherance of the 
gospel. He spoke of his painful ministry, and his 
violent persecutions, enlarging with peculiar energy 
upon his last journey from Jerusalem to Rome. He 
then referred to his faith, love, abundant revelations, 
and constant communion with the Lord Jesus Christ, 
demonstrating that, without such communion, he could 
never have supported the conflicts and sufferings to 
which he was daily exposed. Here he gratefully ad- 
verted to his own situation in being permitted to travel 
unmolested in a country, where genuine Christianity 
was still a subject of abhorrence. u The ancestors of 
these people," he continued, "were stained with the 
blood of the innocent; and were the gospel to be 
proposed in its purity to the present generation, they 
would rush upon the preacher of it as so many 
beasts of prey, unless he who restrained the lions 
from devouring Daniel should control their destruc- 
tive zeal." 

They afterwards proceeded to Naples, w T here Mr. 
Fletchers curiosity was excited by a towering monu- 
ment several stories high,. erected by the Jesuits in 
honour of the Virgin Mary, whose image stood on 
the top of the structure. An Italian inscription was 
engraven upon a stone of the monument to this pur- 
port: — " Pope Benedict XIV. grants a plenary indul- 
gence to all who shall honour this holy image, with 
privilege to deliver one soul out of purgatory every 
time they shall pay their respects to this immaculate 
mother." While Mr. Fletcher copied the inscription 
in his pocket-book, two or three priests passed by: 

G 



74 LIFE OF FLETCHER 

they read in the countenance of the travellers a con- 
tempt for Romish superstitions; and looked displeased, 
but did not offer to insult them. 

Mr. Fletcher afterwards visited the celebrated ruins 
of Herculaneum and Pompeii, which had been re- 
cently discovered near Mount Vesuvius. {i I walk- 
ed," said he, "in the streets of one of those unhappy 
cities which the King of Naples has brought to light, 
by removing part of the stratum of earth and ashes 
under which it lay buried; and I reached the theatre 
of the other, after having descended many fathoms 
through a well sunk in a rocky cinder, that was once 
the fiery fluid, with which the whole city was filled 
and covered." 

On their arrival in Switzerland Mr. Ireland was 
not a little surprised at the grandeur of the house 
and furniture of General De Grange, Mr. Fletcher's 
eldest brother; for, from the silence of his fellow- 
traveller on the subject, he had no expectation of 
seeing any thing more of worldly respectability in 
this branch of his family than he had previously 
witnessed in the humble vicar of Madeley. We 
have no account of the intercourse between Mr. 
Fletcher and his relatives. It was doubtless affec- 
tionate in the highest degree; and the increasing at- 
tention which some of them had lately paid to reli- 
gion must have given an additional interest to their 
meeting. Many years had now elapsed since he 
had left the place of his nativity: but no where 
was his preaching better received, or attended with 
more powerful effects, than at Nyon. His Swiss 
auditory were deeply impressed by the eloquence 



LIFE OF FLETCHER. 75 

of one whose mind was enriched by cultivation, as 
well as animated by the purest devotion. The dif- 
ferent clergy waited upon him, and severally press- 
ed him to occupy their pulpits; and, wherever he 
was announced as the preacher, multitudes flocked 
from every quarter to hear him. At the same time 
the benefit derived from his public labours was 
pleasingly attested by the numerous applications he 
received in private for religious instruction. His 
fellow-traveller speaks with rapture of the success 
of his labours in this place. "Many despisers of 
revelation," says he, " were overawed and confound- 
ed ; many formal professors were touched with the 
power of true religion; and many careless lovers of 
pleasure were impressed with a solemn sense of eter- 
nal things." 

Amongst his hearers one young man was so deeply 
affected by his sermons, that he resolved to devote 
himself to the work of the ministry. Accordingly 
he applied himself from that time to studies of a 
sacred nature, and was afterwards appointed minister 
of the Protestant Church at Lyons. A good old 
clergyman too, who had heard him with delight, 
earnestly solicited him to lengthen his stay among 
them. And when he found that his request could 
not be granted, with tears in his eyes he affectingly 
exclaimed to Mr. Ireland, " O Sir, how unfortunate 
for this country; during my day it has produced 
but one angel, and it is our lot to be deprived of 
him." 

At the time of his departure weeping multitudes 
crowded round his carriage, anxious to receive a last 



76 LIFE OF FLETCHER. 

word or look ; and not a few followed him above two 
miles from the town before they had resolution to tear 
themselves from his company. 

Mr. Fletcher now proceeded directly to England, 
where he arrived in the middle of the summer of 
1770, after an absence of five months. 



LIFE OF FLETCHER. 



CHAPTER V 



COLLEGE AT TREVECCA POLEMICAL WRITINGS. 

About a year previous to Mr. Fletcher's journey to 
the continent, the Countess of Huntingdon had estab- 
lished a seminary at Trevecca in South Wales. The 
terms of admission were "that the students should be 
truly converted to God, and resolved to dedicate 
themselves to his service." During three years they 
were to be boarded, clothed, and instructed at her la- 
dyship's expense: and at the end of that period they 
were to take orders in the established church; or, if 
they preferred it, to enter the ministry among the 
Dissenters. At the earnest request of the Countess, 
Mr. Fletcher had undertaken the charge of superin- 
tending this society in occasional visits, when he was 
to give advice with regard to the appointment of mas- 
ters, and the admission or exclusion of students; to 
overlook their studies and conduct ; to assist their 
piety ; and to judge of their qualifications for the 
work of the sanctuary. 

For some time nothing could appear more prosper- 

g2 



78 LIFE OF FLETCHER. 

ous than the state of the society. " The young men," 
says Mr. Benson, who was at that period tutor of the 
institution, " were serious, and made a considerable 
progress in learning; and many of them seemed to 
have talents for the ministry. Mr. Fletcher visited 
them frequently ; and it is not possible for me to de- 
scribe the veneration in which we all held him. Like 
Elijah, in the schools of the prophets, he was revered^ 
he was loved, he was almost adored; and that not only 
by every student, but by every member of the family. 
And indeed he was worthy. The reader will pardon 
me if he thinks I exceed. My heart kindles while I 
write. Indeed I frequently thought, while attending 
to his heavenly discourse and divine spirit, that he 
was so different from, and superior to, the generality 
of mankind, as to look more like some prophet or 
apostle come again from the dead, than a mortal man 
dwelling in a house of clay." 

But the college at Trevecca was already impreg- 
nated with the seeds of division, which needed only 
the hot-bed of controversy to luxuriate in all the fatal 
and disgusting fruits of animosity and schism. Lady 
Huntingdon, the founder, leaned to supralapsarianism; 
the Hon. Walter Shirley, the president, to sublapsa- 
rianism ; Mr. Fletcher, the visitor, maintained the 
doctrine of general redemption ; and Henderson, who 
bad just resigned to Mr. Benson his office of classical 
rutor, was an Universalist. The superior talents, emi- 
nent piety, and conciliatory manners of the visitor 
might for some time longer have neutralized these 
jarring elements, had not Mr. Wesley, in his zeal to 
iheck the progress of Antinomianism, publicly bore 



LIFE OF FLETCHER. 79 

his testimony, in his minutes of conference, against 
that error, in language which was supposed to border 
on Pelagianism. 

His strong statements excited no little indignation 
amongst the high Calvinists of the day. The alarm 
spread to Trevecca ; and, notwithstanding the libe- 
rality which had been previously professed, Lady 
Huntingdon declared that whoever did not fully dis- 
avow the doctrines contained in the minutes must quit 
the college. The students and masters were accord- 
ingly called upon to deliver their opinion in writing 
without reserve. Mr. Fletcher, in so doing, explained 
and vindicated the sentiments of the minutes, though 
at the same time he acknowledged that they were un- 
guardedly expressed. 

''Mr. Benson," he added, " made a very just de- 
fence, when he said he did hold with me the possi- 
bility of salvation for all men; that mercy is offered to 
all, and yet may be received or rejected. If this be 
what your ladyship calls 6 Mr. Wesley's opinion, free 
will, and Arminianism,' and if ' every Arminian must 
quit the college,' I am actually discharged also; for in 
my present view of things, I must hold that senti- 
ment, if I believe that the Bible is true, and that God 
is love. I am no party-man. In the Lord I am your 
servant, and that of your every student. But if a mas- 
ter is discarded for believing that Christ died for all ; 
then prejudice reigns, charity is cruelly wounded, and 
party-spirit shouts, prevails, and triumphs." 

Mr. Fletcher accordingly resigned his gratuitous 
appointment, wishing that her ladyship might find 
a minister to preside there less insufficient than him- 



80 LIFE OF FLETCHER. 

self, and whose sentiments were more accordant with 
her own. 

At the time Mr. Fletcher retired from Trevecca he 
had no idea of taking any further part in the dispute. 
His only object was to induce the contending parties 
to lay aside all animosities, and peaceably to pursue 
their own course. In a conversation with Lady Hunt- 
ingdon he advised her, as her college was now to be 
considered exclusively Calvinistic> to appoint a visitor 
of the same sentiments; and went so far as to recom- 
mend to her a person as well adapted for the office. In 
his letters to Mr. Benson, the discarded tutor, he 
urged him to suffer in silence, and to cast the mantle 
of forgiving love over every unpleasant circumstance. 
" So far as we can," said he, " let us keep this matter 
to, ourselves. When you speak of it to others, rather 
endeavour to palliate than aggravate what has been 
wrong in your opposers. Remember that great lady 
has been an instrument of extensive good, and that 
there are inconsistencies attending the greatest and 
best of men. Possess your soul in patience; see the 
salvation of God ; and believe, though against hope, 
that light will spring out of darkness." 

For a time a conciliatory spirit was manifested, and 
something like an accommodation seemed to have 
taken place. But these appearances were fallacious, 
and the disputes soon broke out with greater violence 
than ever. In the meantime Mr. Wesley, who had 
neither leisure nor inclination further to pursue the 
controversy, after having briefly vindicated some of 
his expressions, and explained others, cheerfully dele- 
gated the employment to his pious and tried friend, 
the vicar of Madeley. 



LIFE OF FLETCHER. 81 

The natural disposition of Mr. Fletcher was averse 
from polemical divinity: but a deep sense of the evil 
of Antinomianism, which appeared to him to be gain- 
ing ground in Christendom, induced him, with much 
reluctance to engage in the painful task. On sending 
the manuscript of his first Check to Antinomianism to 
a friend much younger than himself, he says, u I beg, 
as upon my bended knees, you would revise and correct 
it, and take off quod durius sonata in point of 
works, reproof, and sty le. I have followed my light, 
which is but that of smoking flax: put yours to mine. 
I am charged hereabouts with scattering firebrands, ar- 
rows, and death. Quench some of my brands ; blunt 
some of my arrows ; and take off all my deaths, except 
that which I design for Antinomianism." 

In such a frame of mind did this excellent man ad- 
dress himself to the work of controversy ; and he con- 
ducted it in the same spirit. Neither polemical writ- 
ing, nor the acrimony of some of his opponents, was 
able to discompose his heavenly temper. In his second 
Check to Antinomianism, he says, "I have long 
wished to see on both sides of the question, about 
which we unhappily divide, moderate men step out of 
the unthinking noisy crowd of their party, to look each 
other lovingly in the face, and to convince the world 
that with impartial zeal they will guard both the foun- 
dation and the superstructure against all adversaries, 
those of their own party not excepted. Whoever does 
this, omne tulit punctum, he is a real friend to both 
parties, and to the whole gospel ; for he cordially 

* What may sound too harsh. 



82 LIFE OF FLETCHER. 

embraces all the people of God, and joins in one bless- 
ed medium the seemingly incompatible extremes of 
scriptural truth. Ye men of clear heads, honest hearts, 
and humble loving spirits, nature and grace have form- 
ed you on purpose to do the church this important ser- 
vice. Therefore, without regarding the bigots of your 
own party, in the name of the loving Jesus, and by 
His Catholic Spirit, give professors public lessons of 
moderation and consistency, and permit me to learn 
those rare virtues with thousands at your feet!" 

In the same conciliatory spirit he concludes this 
Check. " You condescend/' says he, addressing him- 
self to the Hon. W. Shirley, " to call me your ' learn- 
ed friend.' Learning is an accomplishment I never 
pretended to; but your friendship is an honour I shall 
always highly esteem. The motto I thought myself 
obliged to follow was E bello pax:* but that which 1 
delight in is In bello pax \\ May we make them har- 
monize, till we learn war and polemic divinity no 
more! If in the meantime we offend our weak breth- 
ren, let us do something in order to lessen the offence 
till it be removed. Let us show them we make war 
without so much as shyness. Should you ever come 
to the next county, as you did last summer, honour me 
with a line, and I shall gladly wait upon you, and 
show you, (if you permit me,) the way to my pulpit, 
where I shall think myself highly favoured to see you 
6 secure the foundation/ and hear you enforce the doc- 
trine of justification by faith, which you fear we at- 
tack. And should lever be within thirty miles of the 

* We make war in order to get peace, 
t We enjoy peace in the midst of war. 



LITE OF FLETCHER. 83 

city where you reside, I shall go to submit myself to 
you and beg leave to assist you in reading prayers for 
you, or giving the cup with you. Thus shall we con- 
vince the world that controversy may be conscien- 
tiously carried on without interruption of brotherly 
love; and I shall have the peculiar pleasure of testify- 
ing to you in person how sincerely I am, honourable 
and dear Sir, your submissive and obedient servant in 
the bond of a practical gospel." 

To what extent Mr. Fletcher's benevolent attempts 
were successful it is not possible to determine with ac- 
curacy. It may, however, be observed that Pelagian- 
ism appears to be nearly eradicated from the Church 
of England; and it is certain that Antinomianism has 
received a strong, it is to be hoped, an effectual check; 
and among the various causes which have produced 
this happy result his writings may in their measure be 
fairly included. 

In the meantime his private letters breathed forth 
the same exalted piety as ever; while his constant 
desire was, that his people should be instructed in the 
simple doctrines and duties of Christianity, undisturbed 
by the bickerings of party, unalloyed by the refine- 
ments of scholastic divinity. On one occasion, indeed, 
a person who had manifested great discomposure dur- 
ing public service, afterwards told him that he did not 
like his doctrine, because, before his sermon, he 
prayed as if all men might be saved. " And that," 
continued the man, " is false doctrine: if Christ him- 
self came from heaven to preach it, I would not be- 
lieve Him." But this was a rare case: the generality 
of his hearers had no more inclination to attend to 



84 LIFE OF FLETCHER. 

controverted subjects, than their pious vicar to intro- 
duce them. And the more serious part of his parish- 
ioners; who had long admired his spirit and conduct, 
justly venerated him as one of the holiest and best of 
men. 

" A fortnight ago," says he in a letter to a friend, 
" I paid a visit to West Bromwich: I ran away from 
the kindness of my parishioners, who oppressed me 
with tokens of their love. To me there is nothing 
so extremely trying as excessive kindness. I am of 
the king's mind, when the people showed their love 
to him on his journey to Portsmouth. <I can bear/ 
he said, < the hissings of a London mob: but these 
shouts are too much for me.' You, my dear friend, 
and all your family, have put me to that severe trial, 
to which all trials caused by the hard words that 
have been spoken of me are nothing. I return you 
all my warmest thanks; and pray that, excess except- 
ed, you may all, in the day of your weakness, meet 
with as kind nurses and benefactors as you have proved 
to me." 

In a letter to a pious friend, who was suffering 
under the effects of a severe illness, he says, " Let us 
rest more upon the truth as it is in Jesus, and it will 
make us more abundantly free, till we are free indeed; 
free to suffer as well as to triumph with him. Of 
late I have been brought to feed more upon Jesus as the 
Truth. I see more in him in that character than I 
ever did. I am persuaded that, if you study him, you 
will see new beauties in him in that point of view. 
Perpetual comforts are hardly consistent with a state 
of trial. I except those that are inseparable from a 
calm acquiescence in the truth, and the enjoyment of 



LIFE OF FLETCHER. 85 

a good conscience. Our bodies cannot long bear rap- 
tures: but the silent beams of truth can always in- 
sinuate themselves into the believing soul, to stay it 
upon the couch of pain, and in the arms of death. I 
see Christ, the truth of my life, friends, relations, 
sense, food, raiment, light, fire, resting place. All out 
of him are but shadows. All in him are blessed sa- 
craments, I mean visible signs of the fountain, or little 
vehicles to convey the streams of inward grace. As 
for pain, &c. it is only the struggle of fallen nature* 
in order to a full birth into the world of unmix- 
ed bliss. I am glad the Lord supports you under 
your troubles. Arise, be of good cheer, thy sins are 
forgiven thee. Enjoy one blessing as much as nature 
would repine under ten crosses. The Lord direct us 
by his light, and fill us with his love! The God of 
peace be with you, and raise you up to stand by his 
truth and people, and become more ripe for glory. 
Adieu ; I am your's in him who is all in all." 



H 



86 LIFE OF FLETCHER, 



CHAPTER VI. 



PHENOMENON AT THE BIRCHES — HIS BAD STATE OF HEALTH 

PACIFIC DISPOSITION. 

In the summer of 1773, a place in the parish of Made- 
ley, called The Birches, became remarkable for a 
violent concussion of the earth. The Severn was 
driven from its original bed, and formed for itself a 
new channel: the high road in some places completely 
disappeared; and in others was thrown into huge 
masses, resembling shattered lava. A large field was 
broken into misshapen mounds of earth, and innume- 
rable chasms ; and a bank covered with fine oaks took 
possession of the deserted channel of the river. 

Mr. Fletcher, having hastened to the spot, found a 
large concourse of people already assembled. With 
that promptness which was habitual to him, of at- 
tempting to derive improvement from passing inci- 
dents, he immediately spoke to the people collected 
around him ; and as he judged that many of his pa- 
rishioners, w T ho were never in the habit of attending 
his ministry in the church, might be induced, through 



LIFE OF FLETCHER. 87 

curiosity, to join him on so extraordinary an occasion, 
he proposed speaking to them again on the following 
evening, at the same place, when he addressed them 
with considerable point, energy, and effect. 

At the commencement of our unhappy contest with 
the Americans, Mr. Wesley published a political tract, 
in which he maintained the right of the English par- 
liament to tax the colonies. This pamphlet, forty thou- 
sand copies of which were printed in three weeks, ex- 
cited no little indignation among the English partisans 
of the Americans : and produced a spirited reply from 
Caleb Evans, a Baptist minister at Bristol. Urged by 
the pressure of more immediate concerns, Mr. Wesley 
once more delegated his cause to his friend, who, in 
the course of the controversy, displayed no less ability 
than zeal. 

Whatever opinion may be entertained respecting 
Mr. Fletcher's general reasoning on the question, few 
Englishmen, it is presumed, will read without plea- 
sure the following testimony of a foreigner to the ex- 
cellency of the British Constitution. 

" My reverence," said he, " for God's word, my 
duty to the king, and regard for my friend; my love 
to injured truth, and the consciousness of the sweet 
liberty I enjoy under the government, call for this 
little tribute of my pen. And I pay it so much the 
more cheerfully as few men in the kingdom have had 
a better opportunity of trying which is most eligible, a 
republican government, or the mild-tempered monarchy 
of England. I lived more than twenty years the sub- 
ject of two of the mildest republics in Europe: I have 
been for above that number of years the subject of 



88 LIFE OF FLETCHER. 

your sovereign ; and from sweet experience I can set 
my seal to this clause of the king's speech at the open- 
ing of this session of parliament, < To be a subject 
of Great Britain, with all its consequences, is to be 
the happiest subject of any civil government in the 
world*' " 

" There is," he further observed in his second pam- 
phlet, " a symmetrical excellence in the British Con- 
stitution which escapes the attention of many Britons. 
The capital business of the parliament is to keep the 
balance even between the king and the people; that 
neither oppressive despotism, (or the tyranny of one,) 
nor mobbing anarchy, (or the tyranny of many,) may 
prevail. The two houses of parliament are two media- 
torial courts between the king and the people. The 
House of Commons is composed of senators chosen 
by the people, to be a check upon the king and nobles; 
and the House of Lords is composed of senators 
chosen by the Icing, to be a check upon the people and 
their representatives. Hence it appears that the House 
of Lords is peculiarly bound to maintain the preroga- 
tives of the Crown against the encroachments of mobs 
and mobbing patriots; and that it is the peculiar duty 
of the House of Commons to maintain the privileges 
of the people against the encroachments of despots and 
despotic ministers." 

That Mr. Fletcher was perfectly disinterested in en- 
gaging in this controversy no one could doubt who 
had any acquaintance with him. Had he felt any de- 
sire for worldly honour or emolument, it might have 
been abundantly gratified. For shortly after the pub- 
lication of his tracts, one of them was given by the 



LIFE OF FLETCHER. 89 

Earl of Dartmouth to the Lord Chancellor, and by 
him presented to the king, who immediately commis- 
sioned a person to ask Mr. Fletcher whether any pre- 
ferment in the church would be acceptable to him, or 
whether the Chancellor could assist him in any other 
way. But he answered with his characteristic sim- 
plicity, that he wanted nothing but an increase of 
grace. 

Mr. Fletcher's incessant labours in public and pri- 
vate, in connexion with intense application to his stu- 
dies, in which he frequently spent fourteen or sixteen 
hours in the day, had for some time been making per- 
ceptible inroads on his health. Two years before, he 
had observed to Mr. Ireland, "How life goes! I 
walked, now I gallop, into eternity. The bowl of life 
goes rapidly down the steep hill of time. Let us be 
wise. Let us trim our lamps, and continue to give 
ourselves to him that bought us, till we can do it with- 
out reserve. 3 ' 

In the middle of the following year, a little after 
Mr. Wesley had been dangerously ill in Ireland, he 
observes in a letter to a friend, " God has lately 
shaken Mr. Wesley over the grave: but notwithstand- 
ing, I believe, (from the strength of his constitution 
and the weakness of mine, which is much broken 
since I saw you,) he will survive me. So that I do 
not scheme about helping to make up the gap, when 
that great tree shall fall." The event proved as he 
conjectured. Mr. Wesley, though a much older man, 
survived him several years, and was enabled to perse- 



u2 






90 LIFE Q E F L BT GEE R. 

vere in his laborious and numerous avocations till 
within a few days of his death.* 

In the latter end of this year, he says to Mr. 
Charles Wesley; — "Old age comes faster upon me 
than upon you. I am already so grey-headed, that I 
wrote to my brother to know if I am not fifty-six in- 
stead of forty-six. The wheel of time moves so rapid- 
ly, that I seem to be in a new element; and yet, 
praised be God, my strength is preserved far better 
than I could expect. I came home last night at eleven 
o'clock tolerably well, after reading prayers and preach- 
ing twice, and giving the sacrament in my own church, 
and preaching again, and meeting a few people at the 
next market town. The Lord is wonderfully gracious 
to me; and, what is more to me than many favours, he 
helps me to see his mercies in a clearer light. In 
years past I did not dare to be thankful for mercies, 
which now make me shout for joy. I had been taught 
to call them common mercies; and I made as little of 
them, as apostates do of the blood of Christ, when they 
call it a common thing. 0, how I hate the delusion 
which has robbed me of so many comforts." 

In the ensuing spring he thus addresses Mr. Ben- 
son:— "I send this to inquire after your welfare in 
every sense; and to let you know, that though I am 

*This remarkable man died on the second of March, 1791, in the 88th 
year of his age, and the 65th of his ministry. M No one," says Mr. Southey, 
** who saw him even casually, in his old age, can have forgotten his venera- 
ble appearance. His face was remarkably fine ; his complexion fresh to the 
last week of his life ; his eye quick, and keen, and active. When you met 
him in the street of a crowded city, he attracted notice, not only by his band 
and cassock, and his long hair, white and bright as silver, but by his pace 
and manner; both indicating that all his minutes were numbered, and that 
not one was to be lost." 



LIFE OF FLETCHER. 91 

pretty well in body, I break fast, — and that I want to 
break faster in spirit than I do. A young minister, 
in deacon's orders, has offered to be my curate; and if 
he can live in this wilderness, I shall have some liberty 
to leave it. I commit the matter entirely to the Lord. 
To lie at the beck of Providence, to do or not to do, 
to have or not to have, is, I think, in such cases, a be- 
coming frame of mind. The few professors. I see in 
these parts are so far from what I could wish them and 
myself to be, that I cannot but cry out, Lord, how 
long wilt thou give thine heritage to desolation or bar- 
renness? How long shall the heathen say, Where is. 
now their indwelling God? What are your heart, 
your pen, your tongue doing? Are they receiving, 
sealing, spreading the truth everywhere within your 
sphere? The Lord bless you ; the Lord make you a 
child and a father. Beware of your grand enemy, 
earthly wisdom, and unbelieving reasonings. You 
will never overcome but by child-like, loving sim- 
plicity." 

Shortly afterwards he accepted of the invitation of 
his friend Mr. Welsey to accompany him, in moderate 
journeys, according to his strength, in one of his ex- 
cursions to the north of England; and afterwards he 
spent some weeks at Mr. Ireland's to try the effeet of 
the Bristol waters. It appears, however, from the fol- 
lowing letter, that his health derived little improve- 
ment from either of these expedients. " With respect 
to my body," says he, " I know not what to say: but 
the physician says he hopes I shall do well; and so I 
hope and believe too, whether I recover or not. Health 
and sickness, life and death, are best when the Lord 



92 LIFE OF FLETCHER. 

sends them ; and all things work together for good to 
those that love God. I am forbid preaching: but, 
blessed be God, I am not forbid by my heavenly phy- 
sician to pray, believe, and love. This is a sweet 
work, which heals, delights, and strengthens. Let us 
do it till we recover our spiritual strength ; and then, 
whether we shall be seen on earth or not, will matter 
nothing. 

A complete cessation from ministerial duties as 
well as change of air being at length strongly recom- 
mended to him, he took an affectionate leave of his 
parishioners at Madeley, in the autumn of 1776. On 
this occasion he preached from the appropriate words 
of St. Paul: — What I shall choose I wot not. For I 
am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to de- 
part and to be with Christ, which is far better; ne- 
vertheless to abide in the flesh is more needful for 
you. In the course of this sermon he adverted, in 
the most pathetic terms, to the painful situation in 
which he then presented himself to his hearers; so 
debilitated by disease, that he was unable any longer 
to discharge among them the public duties of his mi- 
nisterial office. From his present weakness he looked 
back to his past labours, making many affecting reflec- 
tions upon his own unworthiness, the indubitable tes- 
timonies he had received of the unfeigned affection of 
his people, and the happy effects of his ministry 
among them. Here he enlarged upon the two leading 
desires of his soul. On the one hand he made a so- 
lemn declaration of the earnest longing with which 
he desired to be absent from the body that he might 
he present with the Lord ; and, on the other, he ex- 



LIFE OF FLETCHER. 93 

pressed a more than parental attachment to his flock, 
which excited in him a wish, that he might still be 
permitted to labour for their furtherance and estab- 
lishment in the faith of the gospel. 

Early in December, 1776, Mr. Fletcher (having 
been advised to travel for his health) paid a short 
visit to a pious friend at St. Neot's in Huntingdon- 
shire. An additional inducement for his undertaking 
this journey, was the earnest desire he felt to converse 
with two eminent ministers of Christ, in that county; 
the Rev. John Berridge, vicar of Everton, and the 
Rev. Henry Venn, rector of Yelling. He accordingly 
requested the son of his affectionate host, the present 
Mr. Gorham (by whom this narration has been kindly 
communicated,) to accompany him to Everton.— ~. 
Nearly twenty years had elapsed since Mr. Fletcher 
had been there; during which period he had published 
his " Checks to Antinomianism;" and Mr. Berridge 
had remarked upon them in his " Christian World 
Unmasked, " with his honest zeal, and in his humor- 
ous manner. 

"The instant we entered the room/' says Mr. Gor- 
ham, " the good old vicar rose, and ran up to Mr. 
Fletcher, embracing him with folded arms; and then, 
with looks of delight and tears of affection, exclaim- 
ed, c My dear brother, this is indeed a satisfaction I 
never expected. How could we write against each 
other, w r hen we both aim at the same thing, the glory 
of God, and the good of souls! But my book lies 
very quietly on the shelf; — and there let it lie.' I re- 
tired, leaving the pious controversialists to themselves 
for about two hours. On my return, I found them in 






94 LIFE OF FLETCHER. 

the true spirit of christian love, and mutually as un- 
willing to part, as they had been happy in meeting 
each other. ' Brother/ said Mr. Berridge, ' We must 
not part without your praying with us.' The servants 
being called in, Mr. Fletcher offered up a prayer, 
filled with petitions for their being led by the Holy 
Spirit to greater degrees of sanctification and useful- 
ness as ministers; and dwelt much upon that effusion 
of the Spirit which fills the pages of his Tract called 
< The Reconciliation.' Mr. Berridge then began, and 
was equally warm in prayer for blessings upon ' his 
dear brother.' They were indeed so united in love, 
that we were obliged, in a manner, to tear away Mr. 
Fletcher,* that he might keep his appointment with 
Mr. Venn, whom he was to meet at dinner at St. 
Neot's. Here we found that most lively and excellent 
minister waiting for us; and here we had another in- 
stance that good men of different sentiments need 
only be brought together, and unite at a throne of 
grace, to prove that they are of one heart. They 
met, they conversed, and parted with every demon- 
stration of the most cordial and christian affection. 
Mr, Venn was so totally absorbed by his subject, while 
speaking of the duties of ministers, that Mr. Fletcher 
was obliged to remind him, playfully, that he had a 
meal before him. 

" The next summer," continues Mr. Gorham, 
"Mr. Venn was at Bristol; and, on his return, I 
heard him say from his pulpit at Yelling, (when dis- 

*"Some months after this, myself and Mr. Berridge called upon Mr. 
Fletcher, at Mr. Greenwood's at Stoke Newington ; when they again met 
with the same affection." 



LIFE OF FLETCHER. 95 

coursing on the influence of Divine grace,) that <he 
had lodged six weeks in the same house with a truly 
pious minister, who was like an angel on earth!' 
He afterwards told me that he alluded to Mr. Fletcher. 

" Permission had been obtained for Mr. Fletcher 
to preach twice on the Sunday which he spent at St. 
Neot's: but it was partially withdrawn, through the 
interference of a party, headed by a clergyman in the 
neighbourhood. Mr. Fletcher was, however, allowed 
to address the smaller congregation in the morning. 
The most marked neglect was shown him by the 
above mentioned clergyman, who read prayers in the 
absence of the curate. These obstacles, so ungene- 
rously thrown in the way of this heavenly-minded 
man, did not appear to move him to any other return 
but love. He took his text from 1 John iv. 19. ' We 
love him, because he first loved us.' His very look 
was love, whilst he explained and applied his subject 
with much fervour. The minds of a few had been 
prejudiced: but many hung upon the lips of the 
preacher. He had not been more than a quarter of an 
hour in his sermon, before an old lady left her seat, 
and abruptly quitted the church ; two or three more 
followed her example, though in a gentler manner. 
As they were drawing towards the door, Mr. Fletcher 
noticed them ; and said, in the tenderest manner, i I 
am sorry to see that some of my hearers are weary of 
a subject which recommends itself to their attention 
in the affectionate declaration of my text, he first 
loved us! I will not be tedious: but 0! that I might 
persuade you to love him!' 

" His sermon was very impressive, but not long. 



96 LIFE OF FLETCHER. 

After service, several persons came to my father's 
house, desirous of an introduction to the preacher. 
As there yet remained some time before the after- 
noon service, it was proposed to Mr. Fletcher that 
he should give a short exhortation to the persons 
who had assembled. About thirty individuals were 
present. The writer of this little narrative well re- 
members the tears which flowed down the cheeks of 
many in the room, while this holy man spoke of 
the love of the Redeemer. One young man 
who had been present, almost accidentally, declared, 
* that his whole frame shook while Mr. Fletcher was 
speaking;' — and his testimony was the more re- 
markable, because the individual had been previously 
accustomed to ridicule religion. Many years after 
this, the clergyman above alluded to inquired after 
Mr. Fletcher; and on being informed by me that he 
was dead, he added, I shall never forget that most 
excellent sermon. 

" During his stay at St. Neot's, he was engaged 
in writing a Tract called < The Bible and the Sword.' 
Being desirous of urging its publication before the ap- 
proaching fast-day in the American war, he requested 
that he might be called at a very early hour. I stole 
gently into his chamber, and kindled his fire, before 
four o'clock. The crackling of the wood awoke him. 
He withdrew the curtain, and said in his most tender 
manner, ' Is it you, my kind host, with your candle 
and fire? May the Lord light the candle of faith 
and the fire of love in our hearts.' There was such 
a sweet and humble manner in all he said, that I can 
never forget this salutation. Though now nearly fifty 



LIFE OF FLETCHER. 97 

years have elapsed, I frequently step into the room, 
and look at the spot, where I received the dear saint's 
thanks, and heard his kind prayer. 

u I had only one more opportunity of seeing Mr. 
Fletcher, which was at Leeds in August, 1781, where 
he preached at five in the morning, from the 2nd Epis- 
tle of Peter, 1st chap. 4th verse. Notwithstanding 
the earliness of the hour, at least two thousand persons 
were present, who appeared to listen to him with the 
deepest attention." 

He now removed to the house of a Mr. Greenwood 
at Stoke Newington, where he experienced every 
benefit that good air, medical skill, and friendly atten- 
tion, could afford. One end, however, of his retire- 
ment, which was to hide himself from company, was 
not answered. Persons of various ranks and senti- 
ments flocked to see him ; and his natural urbanity, 
vivacity of character, and eminent piety, too fre- 
quently led him to converse in such a manner as, 
whilst it edified his visitors, unhappily increased his 
own disorder. It was during this period that he first 
became acquainted with William Perronet, son of the 
Rev. Vincent Perronet, vicar of Shoreham, whom he 
had long numbered among the most endeared of his 
friends. The first sight of Mr. Fletcher, young Per- 
ronet frequently observed, had fixed an indelible im- 
pression on his mind, accompanied with a most affect- 
ing and lasting gratitude for the spiritual benefits he 
derived from his conversation. 

Mr. Fletcher had a peculiar facility in making re- 
ligious observations on the various occurrences of 
the day. This talent was especially manifested during 

i 



98 LIFEOP FLETCHER. 

his present illness. The taking his likeness, bleeding 
him, the menial occupations of servants, all suggest- 
ed useful hints and spiritual illustrations. For any 
one to attempt to imitate him in this particular, would 
only be to render himself ridiculous: even the repe- 
tition of his observations, divested of the original 
manner and emphatic tone of voice in which they 
were delivered, would appear insipid. But his ge- 
nuine simplicity gave a grace arid dignity to whatever 
he said ; and the seraphic piety which beamed from 
his countenance, even when he was silent, was not 
without effect. To a poor thoughtless wretch, who 
called upon him in a deep decline, he said in a solemn 
tone, whilst he laid one hand on his own chest, and 
the other on the man's, " God has fixed a loud knock- 
er at your breast and mine. Because we did not re- 
gard, as we ought to have done, the gentle calls of his 
Holy Spirit, his word, and his providences, he has 
taken fast hold here ; and we cannot get out of his 
hands. Oh! let the knocker awaken you, who are 
just dropping into eternity." 

When any thing unkind, which had been said of 
him or of his writings, was occasionally mentioned, 
he would immediately stop the speaker, and frequently 
offer up an earnest aspiration for the person. 

Indeed he never willingly permitted any thing to be 
spoken in his presence against his opponents; and at 
all times he made those allowances for them which, 
on a change of circumstances, he would have wished 
them to have made for him. The same tenderness of 
spirit led him carefully to avoid referring to the in- 
consistencies of others. " Never," said Mr. Venn, 



LIFE OF FLETCHER. 99 

"did I hear Mr. Fletcher speak ill of any man. He 
would pray for those that walked disorderly: but he 
would not publish their faults." 

In the meantime his health gradually declined. 
After having, therefore, in vain again tried the effects 
of the Bristol waters, he was induced, once more, to 
visit Switzerland, on what appeared a forlorn hope 
of deriving benefit from his native air. Even, under 
these circumstances, a hope of being useful to others 
appears to have had no little influence on his deter- 
mining to undertake this journey. " I am going," 
said he in a letter to a friend who had kindly watched 
over his declining health, " to do by my poor sister, 
what you have done by me, to try to smooth the road 
of sickness to the chamber of death. Gratitude and 
blood call me to it: — you have done it without such 
calls: your christian kindness is freer than mine; but 
not so free as the love of Jesus, who took upon him 
our nature, that he might bear our infirmities, die our 
death, and make over to us his resurrection and his 
life, after all we had done to render life hateful, and 
death horrible to him. 0! for this matchless love let 
rocks and hills, let hearts and tongues, break an un- 
grateful silence ; and let your christian muse find new 
anthems, and your poetic heart new flights of elo- 
quence and thankfulness." 

Before his departure, however, two things were 
uppermost in his mind; the one to address a pastoral 
letter to his beloved parishioners, and the other to ex- 
press his earnest desire to see the persons with whom 
he had been engaged in controversy, that, all doctri- 
nal differences apart, he might testify his sincere re- 



100 LIFE OF FLETCHER. 

gret for having given them the least displeasure; and 
receive from them some assurance of reconciliation 
and good will. All of them had not sufficient gene- 
rosity to accept the invitation: those who came were 
edified as well as affected with the interview ; and one, 
who had had no previous acquaintance with him, ex- 
pressed the highest satisfaction, " at being introduced 
to the company of a man, whose air and countenance 
bespoke him fitted rather for the society of angels, 
than for the conversation of men."* 

" I am more and more persuaded," said he in a let- 
ter to his parishioners, "that 1 have not declared unto 
you cunningly devised fables ; and that the gospel I 
have had the honour of preaching, though feebly, 
among you, is the power of God to salvation to every 
one who believes it with the heart. God grant we may 
all be of that happy number! 

" Want of time does not permit me to give you 
more directions: but if you follow those which fill 
the rest of this page, they may supply the want of 
a thousand. Have, every day, lower thoughts of 
yourselves, higher thoughts of Christ, kinder thoughts 
of your brethren, and more hopeful thoughts of all 
around you. Love to assemble in the great congre- 
gation, and with your companions in tribulation: 

* The person who used this expression was Dr. Price. Dr. Adams, Jate 
Master of Pembroke College, Oxford, having informed him of Mr. Flet- 
cher's desire to have a parting word with his opponents before he quitted 
England, Dr. P. took an early opportunity of calling upon him at Newing- 
ton. Not long afterwards, when Dr. Adams inquired of his friend what he 
thought of the Vicar of Madeley, he expressed himself as above. 

This account was given to Mr. Gilpin by Dr. Adams himself, a few weeks 
after Mr. Fletcher's decease. 



LIFE OF FLETCHER. 101 

but, above all, love to pray to your Father in secret; 
to consider your Saviour who says, Look unto me, 
and be saved ; and to listen for your Sanctifier and 
Comforter, who stands at the door, and knocks to 
enter into your inmost souls, and to set up his 
kingdom of righteousness, peace, and joy, within 
you. Let every one with whom you converse be 
the better for your conversation. Be burning and 
shining lights wherever you are. Be faithful to your 
God, your king, and your masters. Let not the good 
ways of God be blasphemed through any of you. 
Let your heavenly-minded ness and your brotherly 
kindness be known to all men, so that all who see 
you may wonder and say, See how these people love 
one another! 

u I leave this blessed island for a while: but, I trust, 
I shall never leave the kingdom of God, the Mount 
Sion, the New Jerusalem, the shadow of Christ's 
cross, the clefts of the Rock smitten and pierced for 
us. There I entreat you to meet me. There I meet 
you in spirit. I hope to see you again in the flesh: but 
my sweetest and firmest hope is to meet you where 
there are no parting seas, no interposing mountains, no 
sickness, no death, no fear of loving too much, no 
shame for loving too little. In the mean time I ear- 
nestly recommend you to the pastoral care of the great 
Shepherd and Bishop of souls, and to the brotherly 
care of one another, as well as to the ministerial care 
of my substitute. The authority of love, which you 
allowed me to exert among you for edification, I re- 
turn to you, and divide among you ; humbly re- 
questing that you would mutually use it, in warn- 

i 2 



102 LIFE OP FLETCHER. 

ing the unruly, supporting the weak, and comfort- 
ing all. Should I be spared to come back, let me 
have the joy of finding you all of one heart and 
one soul, continuing steadfast in the apostles' doctrine, 
in fellowship one with another, and in communion 
with our God." 



LIFE OF FLETCHER. 103 



CHAPTER VII. 



STATE OF RELIGION IN FRANCE — HIS RESIDENCE AT NYON — 
DEATHS OF VOLTAIRE, ROUSSEAU, AND HALLER. 

In the beginning of December, 1777, Mr. Fletcher, 
accompanied by his old fellow-traveller, Mr. Ireland, 
commenced his journey for the continent. A strong 
gale, which prevented his immediately sailing from 
Dover, afforded him another opportunity of express- 
ing his gratitude to his kind friends at Stoke Newing- 
ton. "Ten thousand blessings," he says, " light upon 
the heads and hearts of my dear benefactors, Charles 
and Mary Greenwood. May their quiet retreat at 
Newington become a Bethel to them! May their off- 
spring be born again there! And may the choicest 
consolations of the Spirit visit their minds, whenever 
they retire thither from the busy city! Their poor 
pensioner travels on, though slowly, towards the grave. 
His journey to the sea seems to him to have hastened, 
rather than retarded, his progress to his old mother 
earth. May every providential blast blow him nearer 
to the heavenly haven of his Saviour's breast, where 
he hopes, one day, to meet all his benefactors, and 



104 LIFE OF FLETCHER. 

among them, those whom he now addresses. my 
dear friends, what shall I render? — what to Jesus? — 
what to you? May he who invites the heavy laden 
take upon him all the burdens of kindness you have 
heaped on your Lazarus! And may angels when you 
die, find me in Abraham's bosom, and bring you into 
mine, that, by all the kindness, which may be shown 
in heaven, I may try to requite that you have shown 
to your obliged brother, J. F." 

After a short passage they arrived at Calais; and 
from thence proceeded, by easy stages, to Dijon. Al- 
though the weather was severe, and, in consequence 
of their carriage breaking down, they were exposed 
for some time without any shelter to the piercing cold, 
he experienced no material inconvenience. From 
Dijon they proceeded to Lyons; and at length arrived 
at Aix les Bains, where they remained a few weeks. 
Mr. Fletcher's health now appeared to be somewhat 
improved. He walked out daily without suffering 
from his cough, or from the weakness of his chest. 
In a little time he was able to officiate at family wor- 
ship ; and, shortly afterwards, preached twice at Mar- 
seilles, and once at Montpelier, without any apparent 
injury to himself, and to the great delight of the con- 
gregations. 

"lam not able, " says his delighted fellow-travel- 
ler, "to express the power and liberty which the 
Lord gave him. Both the French and English were 
greatly affected : the word went to the hearts both of 
saints and sinners. You would be astonished at the 
entreaties of pastors as well as people. He has re- 
ceived a letter from the minister of the Levine moun- 



LIFE OF FLETCHER. 105 

tains, who intends to come to Montpelier, sixty miles, 
to press him to go and preach to his flock/' 

In a letter to some friends in England Mr. Fletcher 
gives the following affecting description of the declen- 
sion of religion, and of the prevalence of infidelity in 
France. " Gaming and dress, sinful pleasure and love 
of money, unbelief and false philosophy, lightness of 
spirit, fear of man, and love of the world, are the 
principal sins by which Satan binds his captives in 
these parts. Materialism is not rare; Deism and Soci- 
nianism are very common; and a set of free-thinkers, 
great admirers of Voltaire and Rousseau, Bayle and 
Mirabeau, seem bent upon destroying Christianity and 
government. c With one hand/ said a lawyer, who 
has written something against them, c they shake the 
throne, and with the other they throw down the altars.' 
If we believe them, the world is the dupe of kings and 
priests ; religion is fanaticism and superstition ; subor- 
dination is slavery and tyranny; christian morality is 
absurd, unnatural, and impracticable ; and Christianity 
the most bloody religion that ever was. And here it 
is certain that, by the example of christians, so called, 
and by our continual disputes, they have a great advan- 
tage, and do the truth immense mischief. Popery will 
certainly fall in France in this or in the next century ; 
and I make no doubt God will use these vain men to 
bring about a reformation here, as he used Henry 
VIII. to do that great work in England: so the mad- 
ness of his enemies shall at last turn to his praise, and 
to the furtherance of his kingdom. If you ask what 
system these men adopt, — I answer, that some build 
on Deism, a morality founded on self-preservation, 



106 LIFE OF FLETCHER. 

self-interest, and self-honour. Others laugh at all mo- 
rality, except that, the neglect of which violently dis- 
turbs society ; and external order is the decent cover- 
ing of fatalism; while materialism is their system. 

"Omy dear Sir," he continued, "let me entreat 
you, in these dangerous days, to use your wide influ- 
ence with unabated zeal against the scheme of these 
modern Celsuses, Porphyries, and Julians, by calling 
all professors to think and speak the same things, to 
love and embrace one another, and to stand firmly em- 
bodied to resist those daring men, many of whom are 
already in Enghmd, headed by the admirers of Mr. 
Hume and Mr. Hobbes. 

"I need not tell you, that the hour in which Provi- 
dence shall make my way plain to return to England, 
to unite with the happy number of those who feel the 
power of christian godliness, will be welcome to me. 
favoured Britons! happy w T ould it be for them if 
they knew their gospel privileges!" 

In a letter to another friend, he thus characteristi- 
cally enforced the importance of union among chris- 
tians: — -" If you saw with what boldness the false phi- 
losophers of the continent, who are the apostles of 
the age, attack Christianity, and how they urge our 
disputes to make the gospel of Christ the jest of na- 
tions and the abhorrence of all flesh, you would break 
through your natural timidity, and invite all our breth- 
ren in the ministry to do what the herds do on the 
Swiss mountains when wolves attack them ; instead of 
goring one another, they unite, form a close battalion, 
and face the common enemy on all sides. What a 
shame would it be, if cows and bulls showed more pru- 



LIFE OF FLETCHER. 107 

dence and more regard for union than christians, and 
ministers of the gospel." 

Early in the spring one of his brothers met him at 
Montpelier ; and conducted him from thence to Nyon, 
the place of his nativity. Here he resided in the 
midst of affectionate relations, in the house which had 
been inhabited by his father; where every care w r as 
taken that he should want neither the best advice, nor 
any attention that could possibly contribute to the re- 
establishment of his health. 

The paternal residence of Mr. Fletcher, still in the 
possession of his family, is a respectable old building 
erected on an elevated spot at the extremity of the 
town. The entrance to it, like that to many of the 
more ancient houses in Switzerland, is by a stone spi- 
ral staircase leading to an old fashioned hall, on the one 
side of which is a room, which, from its having been 
long inhabited by their saintly relative, still retains his 
venerated name. From one of the windows in this 
room a shady wood, the favourite scene of Mr. Flet- 
cher's meditations, forms a conspicuous object in the 
midst of a widely-extended prospect varied with hill 
and dale, vineyards and pastures, and bounded by the 
gloomy mountains of the Jura. A few paces from the 
house is an extensive public terrace, from whence the 
whole expanse of the curving lake is clearly visible. 
At the farthest extremity on the right, after several in- 
tervening well-wooded bays, is seen Geneva, the cra- 
dle of the Reformation, and of liberty ; and to the left 
Lausanne, and the celebrated castle of Chillon, appear 
in the distance, bounded by the Alpine peaks which 
embosom the hospitable asylum of St. Bernard, and 



108 LIFE OP FLETCHER. 

the delightful valley of Chamouny. But it is neces- 
sary to visit this favoured spot to form any adequate 
idea of its beauty. It is one of those lovely scenes 
which painters in vain attempt to delineate, and poets, 
in their happiest moments, delight to celebrate. A 
brilliant sunset, and a trasparent mid-day are alike, 
though in different ways, subservient to the beauty of 
the prospect. During the former, the dells, the hills, 
the mountains, assume their finest purple livery, and 
Mont Blanc glows from his lofty station in raiment of 
burnished gold; and during the latter, the calm surface 
of the lake doubles by its pellucid mirror the milk 
white vestment of the gigantic monarch of the moun- 
tains, preceded by the gloomy forms of the Mole and 
the Saleve, and graced on either side by a vast train of 
snowy satellites. With what sensations must the 
beaming eyes of the seraphic Fletcher, as he slowly 
paced along the spacious terrace, have gazed upon the 
enchanting scene, while religion impressed upon his 
mind the appropriating language, " My Father made 
them all." " Come," says he, in a letter to a friend, 
who had some idea of visiting Switzerland, "come 
and share a pleasant apartment in the house where I 
was born, and one of the finest prospects in the world. 
I design to try this fine air some months longer. This 
is a delightful country. We have a fine shady wood 
near the lake, where I can ride in the cool all the day, 
and enjoy the singing of a multitude of birds." " But 
this," he added, in that strain of piety with which he 
was accustomed to turn from temporal to spiritual sub- 
jects, " though sweet, does not come up to the singing 
of my dear friends in England. There I meet them 
in spirit several hours in the day." 



LIFE OF FLETCHER. 109 

The fine climate and delightful scenery, the pure air 
and relaxation from public duties, in connexion with 
the salubrious milk of the goat, and the luxuriant 
grapes of the country, which constituted the principal 
articles of his food, appear, through the divine bless- 
ing, to have ultimately re-established his health. His 
recovery, however, was very slow, and frequently in- 
terrupted by such relapses of his disorder, as brought 
him to the very brink of the grave, whilst they pow- 
erfully illustrated the influence of that religion for 
which he had so long been conspicuous. Once he was 
so much reduced by weakness and fever, as neither to 
know his own name, nor those of his surrounding 
friends. But even in this state there was a name en- 
graven on his heart in indelible characters, which was 
continually on his lips. With uplifted hands, as though 
engaged in prayer and praise, he was often heard to 
repeat, " Jesus, blessed Jesus." 

For some time after Mr. Fletcher's return to Nyon, 
his health was in too delicate a state to enable him to 
undertake much public duty. 

" Afflicted," he said, "with a dangerous disease, 
and obliged to entrust the care of my church to a sub- 
stitute, with the permission of my superiors I came to 
this place on a visit to my kinsmen: and more espe- 
cially for the purpose of breathing my native air, which 
the physicians, after having already exhausted their art 
in my favour, considered as the last remedy that re- 
mained to be tried with any hope of success. Upon 
my arrival the pastors of Nyon, to the first of whom I 
have had the honour of being known for these thirty- 
six years, obligingly offered me the use of their pulpits, 

x 






110 iLIFE OF FLETCHER. 

if my health should permit me to preach. But, after 
appointing different days on which I hoped to have 
taken the advantage of their friendly offers, by repeat- 
ed returns of my weakness, I was prevented from ful- 
filling my engagements. I have, however, preached 
three or four times: but observing in myself, during 
these exercises, a want of strength to occupy the pul- 
pit with that power and dignity which are expected in 
a preacher who appears before a polished audience, I 
considered it rather as my duty, with the permission, 
and under the inspection of our pastors, without as- 
cending the pulpit, to give some familiar instructions 
to such children and others as were disposed to receive 
them ; offering in a room, from time to time, occasion- 
al reflections, either upon some book of piety, or some 
passage of Holy Scripture." 

The manner in which he first became acquainted 
with his juvenile flock is remarkable. One day, as he 
was riding in his favourite wood, he met several chil- 
dren who were gathering strawberries. "I spoke to 
them," said he, " about our Father, our common Fa- 
ther: we felt a touch of brotherly affection. They 
said they would sing to their Father, as well as the 
birds; and followed me, attempting to make such me- 
lody as is common in these parts. I outrode them: 
but some of them had the patience to follow me home, 
and expressed their desire to see me: but the people 
of the house stopped them, saying, I would not be 
troubled with children. They cried, and said, — They 
were sure I would not say so, for I was their good 
brother. The next day, when I heard it, I inquired 
after them, and invited them to come to mej which 



LIFE OF FLETCHER. Ill 

they have done every day since. I make little hymns 
for them, which we sing together from four to five. 
Some of them seem to be under sweet drawings of 
their heavenly Father; and a few of their mothers 
begin to come, and desire me, with tears in their eyes, 
to stay in this country. Yesterday I wept for joy on 
hearing one of them speak of conviction of sin, and of 
joy unspeakable in Christ, as an experienced Christian 
would have done." 

The affection of the children for their kind instruc- 
tor was, indeed, remarkable. Whenever they met him 
in his walks, their eyes sparkled with joy; and they 
showed that no employment was so delightful to them as 
that of joining with him in singing the hymns he had 
taught them, or listening to his instructive conversa- 
tion. 

As Mr. Fletcher's strength increased, it was natu- 
rally expected by admiring multitudes, that his public 
ministrations would become proportionably frequent. 
But at this period a spirit of hostility, which had for 
some time been secretly festering in the minds of some 
narrow-minded individuals, burst forth with unusual 
virulence. A highly respectable relative of Mr. 
Fletcher, who most courteously entertained the writer 
of this work, has since favoured him with the follow- 
ing account of this melancholy circumstance. "Dur- 
ing the first short visit of my uncle to Switzerland, 
the generality of the neighbouring pastors, and espe- 
cially those at Nyon, joined with their people in their 
enthusiastic admiration of him, and bore public testi- 
mony of their veneration for their pious brother la- 
bourer. But after his second journey, many of them, 



112 LIFE OF FLETCHER. 

far from retaining their former sentiments, broke out 
into the greatest violence against him, doubtless from 
the jealousy with which they beheld the people eagerly 
flocking to the churches where he preached, while 
their own were deserted. Indeed, such was the anx- 
iety to hear him, that not only the outer court, but 
those parts of the streets which were adjacent to the 
church, were completely filled. In the meantime the 
animosity of these pastors rose to such a height as to 
lead them to represent him to the government of Bern, 
to which this canton was then subject, as a person 
who preached doctrines dangerous to morality and the 
state; and at length they succeeded in having him ex- 
cluded from the pulpit. Under these circumstances 
his ardent zeal led him to form private meetings for 
religious purposes, and afterwards to invite some of the 
more pious of his hearers to accompany him to the 
wood adjoining our town, where, notwithstanding the 
delicate state of his health, he almost daily instructed 
the multitudes who assembled. These meetings were 
continued till the period of his departure from Swit- 
zerland, an event which overwhelmed with the most 
lively grief all those who had been the witnesses of 
his ardent piety, and unbounded devotion to his divine 
Master. 

"I was at that time too young to experience the 
effect produced by his overpowering eloquence, or to 
appreciate the eminent talents which he possessed, 
blended with so much humility. I remember little 
more beside the surprise I felt when for the first time 
approaching the church where he was preaching, I saw 
the building surrounded by a crowd collected from 



LIFE OF FLETCHER. 113 

the town, and the neighbouring parishes, who were not 
able to obtain admission, and at the same time a num- 
ber of ladders placed against the windows, completely 
covered with people, who appeared to be listening 
with the most devout attention. Nor was my asto- 
nishment diminished when, on another occasion, hav- 
ing been conducted by my father into the wood, I be- 
held him surrounded by what appeared to me an im- 
mense multitude of hearers, who, at the conclusion of 
the discourse, made the echoes resound with the sing- 
ing of their sacred hymns. You, my dear sir, have 
yourself visited the places where these interesting 
scenes were realized, and I am convinced that it was 
not without some emotions." 

It was, indeed, impossible to enter the ancient ve- 
nerable church of Nyon, whose plain open pews, large 
projecting gallery, and simple stone pulpit, present a 
fine specimen of Swiss simplicity, without being deep- 
ly impressed with the consideration that this was the 
very place where Fletcher had so powerfully preached 
the glorious gospel of our divine Saviour; or to tra- 
verse the wood consecrated by his private meditations, 
without experiencing a mixture of feelings more easi- 
ly conceived than described. Here was the retired 
walk where he poured out his soul in private prayer; 
a little farther was the place where he taught the chil- 
dren to warble the praises of their Saviour; and here, 
again, the very spot where, with a heart glowing with 
love to God and man, he called upon all around him 
to embrace the precious promises of the gospel, and 
to partake of those joys which he himself experienced. 
There was a sort of fascination in the place. The still- 

k2 



114 LIFE OF FLETCHER. 

ness of the spot, the verdure of the surrounding trees, 
the singing of the feathered tribe, and an immense 
stone-table, placed as if purposely for a pulpit, at the 
junction of the various roads, might, under similar 
circumstances, have induced a more phlegmatic man 
than Fletcher to elevate the attention of all around 
him, from the works of nature to those of nature's 
God. 

It is to the honour of the pastors of Nyon, that they 
were not infected with the rancorous spirit of their 
brethren; but that, as far as circumstances would al- 
low, they manifested an unabated attachment, and 
profound respect, for their persecuted countryman. — 
" Our ministers," says he, " are very kind, and preach 
to the purpose. A young clergyman, a true Timothy, 
has opened me his house, where I exhort twice a 
week; and the other clergymen, encouraged by his 
boldness, come to our meetings." 

The ardent affection of the pious part of his audi- 
tory may be collected from the following circumstance. 
"I have complied," says he in a letter to one of his 
parishioners, " with the request of my friends, to stay 
a little longer, as it was backed by a small society of 
pious people gathered here. Three weeks ago they 
got about me; and on their knees, with many tears, 
besought me to stay till they were a little stronger, 
and able to stand alone; nor would they rise, till they 
had got me to comply. Happy would it be for us all, 
if we prayed as earnestly to Him, who can give us 
substantial blessings." 

In the latter part of 1778, Mr. Wm. Perronet vi- 
sited Nyon, for the purpose of consulting Mr. Flet- 



LIFE OP FLETCHER. 115 

cher respecting his claims to an estate at Chateau 
d'Oex, which had by some means lapsed from his fa- 
mily. On this occasion Mr. Fletcher, having kindly 
translated for him his various documents, and pro- 
cured the best legal advice, accompanied his young 
friend along the fine Alpine scenery which led to the 
litigated spot. " Neither Mr. Fletcher nor the law- 
yer whom we took with us," says young Perronet in 
a letter to his father, " had ever visited this northern 
region of their own country, so that the journey was 
as new to them as to myself. It was no easy matter, 
at this season, to procure a guide: however, at last we 
agreed with one; and set out on a journey of near 
eighty miles across the Alps, passing over mountains 
of snow, and rocks of ice, till we came within nine 
miles of the place, when we were obliged to get into 
an open sledge, on account of the difficulty and dan- 
ger attending the road. And now we travelled 
through narrow passes cut through the snow, (which 
was many feet above our heads,) on the sides of moun- 
tains, whose summits the eye could scarce reach; and 
frequently on the very brink of precipices, at the 
bottom of which we could hear the waters roar like 
thunder, and could see it in some places rushing down 
the sides in torrents, and forming in its passage vast 
pillars of ice amongst the rocks. Here we w r ere 
shown the place where a coach had lately fallen down; 
and a little farther the spot where a native of Chateau 
d'Oex, but a few days before, w r as murdered, and then 
thrown down the precipice. We arrived, at length, 
at the town, where all the houses are built entirely of 
wood, with enormous kitchen chimnies, the whole size 



116 LITE OF FLETCHER. 

of the room, running up to a vast height in the form 
of a steeple* On the fronts of the houses are carved, 
in large letters, the names of the persons who built 
them ; and some moral or religious sentence, with a 
prayer that the inhabitants may be preserved from 
pestilence, &c. 

"The town is situated on a small spot, amidst 
huge rocks and mountains, piled one on the other, the 
heads of many of which are often hid amongst the 
clouds. The slopes are beautifully adorned with 
lofty pines, whilst the enormous sides of others are 
naked, craggy, and almost perpendicular. For here 
all the works of nature, or rather of the God of na- 
ture, are terribly magnificent; so that, in viewing 
them, one cannot but admire and tremble at the same 
instant. 

"The weather here is extremely severe: it is scarce 
in the power of clothes, or even fire, to keep us warm; 
and the wolves begin to leave the forests, and to prowl 
about the villages. Two of them, Mr. Fletcher tells 
me, were seen near this town the other day ; one of 
which was killed by the country people. 

" Whether I succeed in my temporal business or 
not, I shall ever remember, with pleasure and thank- 
fulness, the opportunities I have been blessed with of 
spending so much time in company with our inestima- 
ble friend: who, wherever he goes, preaches the gos- 
pel, both by his words and example, nay, by his very 
looks, not only to his friends, but to all he meets with. 
So that on the top of the frozen Alps, and in the 
dreary vale of Chateau d'Oex, some good seed has 
been sown. And here also he was visited by some of 



LIFE OF FLETCHER. 117 

the principal inhabitants of the town; who stood round 
him in deep attention for almost an hour, while he 
both exhorted and prayed." 

" I have had the pleasure," says Mr. Fletcher in a 
letter to the same venerable clergyman, u of accom- 
panying your son to your father's birth-place. It is 
a charming country for those who have a taste for 
highland prospects: — but what is it to our heavenly 
Father's hill of Sion? Thither may we all travel, and 
there may we all have a happy meeting, and find an 
eternal inheritance. Whether you will obtain your 
earthly estate, in these parts, in possession, as it is 
yours by right, is yet to me matter of doubt. A 
little time, I hope, will decide the question : and 
as Providence will throw in the turning weight, it 
will be for the best, which way soever the affair ends." 
A few weeks afterwards he writes to the same vene- 
rable clergyman, "Our Redeemer liveth; and when 
sickness and death shall have brought down our flesh 
to the earth, we shall, by his resurrection's power, rise 
and live for ever with him in heavenly places. For 
the new earth will be a heaven, or a glorious province 
of the kingdom of heaven. With it we shall be re- 
stored to paradisaical beauty, and filled with righte- 
ousness. Well, the meek shall inherit it ; and that 
inheritance shall be fairer than yours at Chateau 
d'Oex, and surer too. I hope to accompany your son 
soon to England. Let us all move towards our hea- 
venly country, by Christ, who is the only way ; a 
way strait, sure, luminous, and where the wayfaring 
man, though a fool, will have more wisdom than all 
the teachers of the mere letter." 



118 LITE OF FLETCHER. 

During his long residence at Nyon, Mr. Fletcher 
composed his Portrait of St. Paul, finished a poem on 
the praises of God which he had begun some years be- 
fore, and composed several minor pieces in his own 
language. Shortly after his death, his Portrait of St. 
Paul was translated into English by Mr. Gilpin, who 
subjoined some biographical notes illustrative of the 
character of his author, by a splendid parallelism of it 
with that of the apostle. His poem also, a second and 
enlarged edition of which was published by Mr. Flet- 
cher, under the title of "La Grace et La Nature/' as 
being more definite, and including the idea of a des- 
cant on the creation, has more recently appeared in an 
English dress. The notes which accompany it will, 
perhaps, by many of its readers, be considered the 
most valuable parts of the work. They are written 
with considerable spirit; and abound with cogent argu- 
ments in support of our holy faith, against the specious 
objections of infidelity. A translation rarely, if ever, 
transfuses the spirit of the original: the English read- 
er must not, therefore, expect to form an accurate idea 
of the style of the author from the annexed version of 
his observations on the redemption of man by Jesus 
Christ. 

"If a loadstone," says Mr. Fletcher, "can commu- 
nicate its virtue without losing it, and if this virtue 
can be completely incorporated in a piece of iron, — 
why cannot the Eternal Word, who essentially dwells 
in the Father, be communicated to an individual of 
the human race, and especially in the soul of a man- 
Saviour, by whom other men may be made partakers 
of the holiness and of the happiness of God, without 



LIFE OP FLETCHER. 119 

themselves becoming gods ; as by means of an iron 
powerfully magnetized, needles may partake of the at- 
traction and polarity of the load-stone, without being 
load-stones bv nature? 

" God is an infinite Being, and all his perfections 
are infinite like himself: his holiness, his justice, his 
goodness, and his wisdom, are so many depths which 
the human understanding cannot fathom. Can we 
then, without temerity, affirm, that in these depths 
of justice, holiness, and love of order, there cannot 
be a severity so great as not to pardon sin completely, 
until a just indignation has been manifested against 
it? 

" If the Majesty of God be infinite, — is it reasona- 
ble to say, that crimes committed against it by a count- 
less multitude of beings ;— crimes committed with the 
greatest insolence, and the proudest obstinacy; — 
crimes accumulated by creatures loaded with favours; 
— crimes repeated with a thousand aggravations, dur- 
ing thousands of years, in every part of the world; is 
it reasonable, I say, to affirm, that such crimes ought 
to be pardoned by a Legislator of infinite justice, with- 
out punishing this criminal race in the most exemplary 
manner? 

"If such a chastisement would have crushed all 
the guilty; and if the goodness of God be as im- 
mense as his justice, — is it reasonable to suppose, that 
infinite goodness could not offer to infinite justice a 
victim of unlimited worth, fully to expiate on condi- 
tions worthy of God, crimes which were become in- 
finite by their number, their duration, the holiness of 
the laws violated, the greatness of the Benefactor of- 



120 LIFE OP FLETCHER. 

fended, the majesty of the Legislator insulted, and the 
insolence of the violators of his laws? 

" Has not infinite wisdom power to reconcile the 
rights of infinite justice and infinite goodness? What 
absurdity is there then in forming a plan of redemp- 
tion, by which a Being of an innocence, a love, an 
obedience and a power incomprehensible, could gene- 
rously unite himself to human nature, and pay the 
immense debt of this nature, soften the hearts of 
these rebels, and give to all creatures endowed with 
reason the most perfect demonstration of a wisdom, 
a goodness, a holiness, and a justice infinite, which 
should concur in maintaining their rights, and in 
completely developing themselves through time and 
eternity? 

" Is it not strange that such a plan, formed by the 
love, the justice, the wisdom, and the goodness of the 
Supreme Being, and executed by the Word incarnate, 
in conformity with so many prophecies; — a plan which 
has excited the admiration of angels, and of millions 
of pious persons during so many ages; which has com- 
forted penitents under the most terrible circumstances, 
and made the afflicted to triumph in the bosom of sor- 
row, and the sick to rejoice in the arms of death; — 
is it not strange, I say, that such a plan should be the 
constant object of the contempt of Socinians and 
Deists? Shall the finite judge the Infinite? Shall the 
pretended advocates of reason be always so unrea- 
sonable as absolutely to fix what the justice of the 
Supreme Being has a right to exact, what the moral 
order of the Universe ought to require, and what in- 
finite goodness should bestow upon his creatures? 



LIFE OF FLETCHER. 121 

" How absurd is that religion, which has for its prin- 
ciple this dogma of the sages of our age : — A being 
circumscribed as myself, who never knew his grand- 
son, or his grandfather, who is ignorant of the nature 
of his soul, nay, of the vilest atoms which compose 
his body; nevertheless so perfectly understands the 
depths of the justice, and mercy, and wisdom of God, 
as to decide that the redemption of mankind by the 
propitiatory sacrifice of the Son of God, is contrary to 
these perfections! 

" Are not the contracted views which modern phi- 
losophers entertain of the goodness of God, the ex- 
cellence of an immortal soul, and the odious nature 
of sin, one of the causes of their incredulity? It is 
impossible, say they, that the Eternal Word, the 
Prince of life, should become incarnate in order to 
offer himself as a sacrifice for the human race. But, 
if the soul of man be made in the image of God; 
if it be infinite in its duration and its desires; if 
its perfectability be boundless ; if God love it as a 
father cherishes a child ; if the love which is in God 
as much surpass the generosity of all men, the love 
of all fathers, and the tenderness of all mothers, as 
infinity surpasses what is finite — is it reasonable to 
say, that our heavenly Father could never make for 
thousands of souls so great a sacrifice as that of his 
Word incarnate? 

" If king Codrus so loved his subjects as to disguise 
himself, and present himself to death, that he might 
obtain for them some temporal advantages; if Decius 
and Curtius felt so lively an interest in the safety of 
their country, as to sacrifice their own lives in order 

L 



122 LIFE OF FLETCHER. 

to deliver their fellow-citizens from a transient cala- 
mity; if a Swiss, by his noble self-devotion at Sem- 
pach ran to meet death, that he might open a road to 
victory for his countrymen, by collecting into his own 
body the bristled javelins of the enemy's battalions; 
if mothers have lost their own lives to preserve those 
of their children; and if friendship, or a glorious de- 
sire of saving one's neighbour, still produces such sa- 
crifices; — is it not absurd to say, that infinite goodness 
wants either power or the inclination to perform an 
act of compassion sufficiently noble and effectual, to 
rescue millions of souls from the most dreadful mise- 
ries, and to procure for them blessings of an infinite 
duration, and an inestimable value? 

" you, who love wisdom, and deserve the name 
of philosopher, if you contemplate the Majesty of the 
Supreme Being, the immensity of his perfections, the 
holiness of his laws, the beauty of moral order, the de- 
sert of sin, and the value of the souls whom Jesus 
Christ has redeemed, you will see that there is less 
absurdity in believing, than in doubting, that God has 
power and inclination to make a sacrifice of infinite 
value for their redemption. 

"If you say that this redemption of mankind by 
the humiliation and sufferings of the incarnate Word, 
is unworthy of God, — we ask you, Is it unworthy of 
a Being infinitely good, to give an astonishing proof 
of his goodness? Is it unworthy of a Being infinitely 
just, to manifest his justice in a manner the most ex- 
emplary? Is it unworthy of an infinite wisdom, to 
form a Divine Man, sufficiently rich to become surety 
for his brethren, sufficiently strong to bear the bur- 



LIFE OF FLETCHER, 123 

dens which would have borne them down eternally, 
sufficiently good and wise to obtain for them the par- 
don of their sins, in becoming for them the model of 
perfect holiness, and the channel of grace by which 
they may recover the holiness and glory from which 
they are fallen? 

u But it is not credible (you say) that the Prince of 
life should die. Let us understand each other. The 
Prince of life did not, properly speaking, die; that 
was absolutely impossible: but the Prince of life, hav- 
ing united himself to a human and mortal body, was 
willing to quit it two or three days, after having en- 
dured unheard of sufferings. Thus, the mortal body 
entered into the state of death, the sacrifice offered to 
Divine justice was complete, the grave was consecrat- 
ed for the consolation of mortals, the faithful had a 
firm pledge of their resurrection in that of their Chief, 
and the Saviour fully showed himself the resurrection 
and the life in coming forth victorious from the tomb, 
into which he had entered " to destroy him that had 
the power of death, and to deliver them who through 
fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bon- 
dage/' Heb. ii. 14. 

" Lastly, if the Word humbled himself on this 
earth by his union with a mortal body during thirty- 
three years, and by his condescension in suffering this 
body to repose three days in the grave; — what is this 
space of time for the Prince of eternity? A thousand 
years are as one day; three days as the twinkling of 
an eye; and so far from being dishonoured by this mo- 
mentary act of pity, of love, and of mercy, he has ac- 
quired, in the estimation of all reasonable beings, a 



124 LIFE OF FLETCHER. 

glory so great, that sooner or later every knee shall 
bend before him both in heaven and on earth. We 
may then conclude with St. Paul; that the doctrine of 
the cross is to them that perish foolishness: but unto 
them which are saved it is the power of God, and the 
wisdom of God." 1 Cor. i. 18, 24. 

In addition to these customary employments, Mr. 
Fletcher watched over his relations with peculiar anx- 
iety and affection. At one time he admonished them 
with the authority of a minister; at another entreated 
them with the gentleness of a brother; and not unfre- 
quently mingled affectionate tears with his admonitions 
and entreaties. A few passages from a letter, which 
some time before he wrote to one of his brothers, will 
set this amiable part of his disposition in a just point 
of view, and afford no inadequate idea of the impres- 
sive and characteristic manner in which he addressed 
them. " Do not reject," said he, " I conjure you, my 
brotherly counsels and supplications. Do not refuse 
to come where so much felicity awaits you, because 
pressed to it by a person who is unworthy to bring 
you the invitation. We have passed our infancy and 
our youth beneath the same roof, and under the same 
masters. We have borne the same fatigues, and tasted 
the same pleasures. Why then should we be separated 
now? Why should they be divided, who by nature, 
habit, and friendship, have been so long united? I 
have undertaken a journey to the New Jerusalem: 
suffer me not to go thither alone. Come, my dear 
brother; I am most unwilling to leave you behind. 
Come, support me; go before me; encourage me; 
show me the way. I feel the want of a faithful com- 



LIFE OP FLETCHER. 125 

panion, and a christian friend. I desire neither your 
gold nor your silver: but I am anxious that you should 
share my joy. Do not tell me again, that piety is 
usually the portion of younger brothers, since I read 
in the Old Testament that every first-born male should 
be consecrated, in a peculiar manner, to God. Let 
me rather entreat you to take the advantage of your 
situation. Be at least as far beyond me in piety, as 
you are in years; and, instead of feeling any jealousy 
upon this account, my pleasure will be augmented in 
the great day of our Lord Jesus Christ to see myself 
placed at your feet." 

A long continued and dangerous illness of his sis- 
ter, in connexion with the recent deaths of some near 
relations, would naturally stimulate him to fresh earn- 
estness in discharging the unpleasant duty of reproof, 
and at the same time render the survivors more will- 
ing to receive his friendly admonitions. "I have some 
hopes," said he, " that my poor sister will yet be my 
sister in Christ. Her self-righteousness, I trust, breaks 
as fast as her body. I am come hither to see death 
make havoc among my friends. I wear mourning for 
my father's brother, and for my brother's son. The 
same mourning will serve me for my dying sister, if I 
do not go before her. She lies on the same bed where 
my father and mother died, and where she and I were 
born. How near is life to death 1 But, blessed be 
God, Christ the Resurrection is nearer to the weak 
dying believer! Death works through the body, and 
the resurrection through the soul: and our soul is our 
real self." 

While Mr. Fletcher was thus labouring to be use- 

l2 



126 LIFE OF FLETCHER. 

ful to his own countrymen and relatives, he was not 
unmindful of his flock at Madeley. " I am yet," said 
he, in a letter which he wrote to them, "in the land 
of the living, to prepare, with you, for the land where 
there is life without death, praise without weariness of 
the flesh, and love without separation. There I once 
more challenge you to meet me. May there not be 
found one Demas among you, turning aside from the 
little flock and the narrow way, to love and follow 
this present perishing world. May there not be one 
Esau, who, for a frivolous gratification, sold his birth- 
right; nor another wife of Lot, who looked back for 
the good things of the City of Destruction, and was 
punished by a judgment almost as fearful as that of 
Ananias, Sapphira, and Judas. My dear companions, 
let us be consistent: let us seek first the kingdom of 
God and His righteousness ; and all other things, 
upon your diligent, frugal, secondary endeavours, 
shall be added unto you. Let us live daily, more and 
more, upon the free love of our gracious Creator and 
Preserver, the grace and righteousness of our atoning 
Redeemer and Mediator, nor let us stop short of the 
powerful joyous influence of our Comforter and Sanc- 
tifier." 

During his continuance at Nyon, Mr. Fletcher made 
an excursion with his brother to some of the villages 
situated in one of the beautiful valleys in the midst of 
the Jura mountains. Their little tour afforded them 
a fine opportunity of contrasting the different effects 
of a languid ministry in a reformed church with those 
of a zealous one in a corrupt communion. It is indeed 
to be deplored that while the Reformation has in many 



LIFE OF FLETCHER. 137 

places happily rooted out a disgraceful supersti- 
tion, and established a scriptural creed, it has 
not been equally successful in transferring that reli- 
gious feeling which is the life blood of many Roman 
Catholic congregations. A protestant village, which 
was the first visited, presented the pleasing spectacle of 
an industrious, thriving population, actively engaged 
in the various employments of coopers, watchmakers, 
and jewellers. A little conversation, however, soon 
convinced them that the inhabitants were alike desti- 
tute and heedless of the power of vital religion. They 
said they had the best singing, and the best preacher, 
in the country: but, when questioned respecting any 
radical change produced by his ministry, they coldly 
replied, "We do not live in the time of miracles." 

The visit of the brothers to a Popish village was 
more satisfactory. On their arrival their attention was 
excited by a prodigious concourse of people, who, 
they at first supposed, were assembled in consequence 
of a fair. They were, however, soon informed that 
they were collected to hear three Catholic missiona- 
ries who travelled through different parts of the coun- 
try to assist the regular clergy. The scene was no less 
interesting than novel. One of the missionaries as- 
cended the pulpit ; and the parish priest proposed va- 
rious questions to him, which he answered at full 
length, and in a very edifying manner. The subject 
was, the unlawfulness and mischief of those methods 
by which persons of different sexes lay snares for each 
other, and corrupt each other's morals. This delicate 
topic was treated with the greatest propriety, and in a 
manner well adapted to arrest the attention of a mixed 



128 LIFE OF FLETCHER. 

assembly. The conference being ended, another mis- 
sionary occupied the pulpit, and selected for his text 
our Lord's description of the day of judgment. Every 
eye appeared to be riveted upon him; and when at 
length he described the departure of the wicked into 
eternal fire, the greater part of the congregation burst 
into tears. " The wicked," said the missionary, 
«< may then urge that God is merciful, and that Jesus 
Christ has shed His blood for them. i But that mercy,' 
the Judge will reply, 'you have slighted; and now is 
the time of justice: that blood you have trodden under 
foot, and now it cries for vengeance.' Know then 
your day," continued the preacher, addressing him- 
self to his hearers; " slight the Father's mercy and 
the Son's blood no longer." 

One of the years which Mr. Fletcher spent in Swit- 
zerland was memorable for the deaths of three cele- 
brated men in those parts, — Voltaire, Rousseau, and 
Haller. The closing scene of their lives was charac- 
teristic of the individuals, and was thus described by 
him: " Tronchin, the physician of the Duke of Or- 
leans; being sent for to attend Voltaire in his illness at 
Paris, Voltaire said to him, *■ Sir, I desire you would 
save my life. I will give you the half of my fortune 
if you lengthen out my days only for six months. If 
not, I shall go into hell-fire, and you will follow 
me.'" 

" Rousseau died more decently, as full of himself 
as Voltaire was of the wicked one. He paid that at- 
tention to nature and the natural sun, which the chris- 
tian pays to grace and the Sun of Righteousness. 
These were some of his last words to his wife: — * Open 



LIFE OF FLETCHER. 129 

the window that I may see the green fields once more. 
How beautiful is nature! How wonderful is the sun! 
See what glorious light it sends forth! It is God who 
calls me. How pleasing is death to a man who is not 
conscious of any sin! God, my soul is now as pure 
as when it first came out of Thy hands: crown it with 
Thy heavenly bliss.' God deliver us from self and 
Satan — the internal and external fiend. The Lord for- 
bid we should fall into the snare of the Saddueees, 
with the former of these two famous men 5 or into that 
of the Pharisees, with the latter. 

" Baron Haller was a great philosopher, a profound 
politician, and an agreeable poet ; particularly famous 
for his skill in botany, anatomy, and physic. He has 
enriched the republic of letters by such a number of 
publications in Latin and German, that the catalogue 
of them is alone a pamphlet. This truly great man 
has given another proof of the truth of Lord Bacon's 
assertion, that, ' although smatterers in philosophy are 
often impious, true philosophers are always religious.' 
I have met with an old apostolic clergyman, who was 
intimate with the Baron, and used to accompany him 
over the Alps in his rambles after the wonders of na- 
ture. ' With what pleasure,' said the minister, tf did 
we admire and adore the wisdom of the God of nature, 
and sanctify our researches by the praises of the God of 
grace/ When the emperor passed this way he cut 
Voltaire to the heart by not paying him a visit: but 
he waited on Haller, was two hours with him, and 
heard from him the most pious and edifying conversa- 
tion. The Baron was then ill of the disorder which 
afterwards carried him off. Upon his death-bed he 



130 LIFE OF FLETCHER. 

suffered severe conflicts about his interest in Christ: 
and sent to the old minister, requesting his most fer- 
vent prayers, and wishing him to find the way through 
the dark valley smoother than he found it himself. 
However, in his last moments, he expressed a renew- 
ed confidence in God's mercy through Christ, and died 
in peace. The old clergyman added, that he thought 
the Baron went through this conflict to humble him 
thoroughly; and, perhaps, to chastise him for having 
sometimes given way to a degree of self-complacence 
at the thoughts of his amazing parts, and of the re- 
spect they procured him from the learned world. He 
was obliged to become least in his own eyes, that he 
might become first and truly great in the sight of the 
Lord." 

At the commencement of the year 1781, Geneva 
was harassed by popular commotions, occasioned by 
some disputes among three parties, into which that lit- 
tle republic was divided, under the names of Negatifs, 
RepresentaiiSy and Natifs. Mr. Fletcher alludes to 
this ^circumstance in a letter written on the 14th of 
February. "I am here," says he, " in the midst of 
the rumours of war. The burghers of Geneva, on 
the side of the opposition, have disarmed the garrison, 
and taken possession of one of the gates. I had, how- 
ever, the happiness to get in, and bring away my ne- 
phew, who is a student there. Some troops are pre- 
paring to go and block them up. This event may a 
little retard my journey, as I must pass through 
Geneva. It also puts off the printing my manu- 
script: for there is nothing going on in that unhappy 
town but disputes, and fights, and mounting of 
guards." 

/ 



LIFE OF FLETCHER. 131 

We can readily conceive that these civil commo- 
tions deeply affected Mr. Fletcher ; and can scarcely 
refrain from regretting that he did not live to revisit 
this city, so near to the town of his nativity, and the 
scene of his early studies, under its present prosperous 
circumstances. After a long series of misfortunes in 
which every class of its inhabitants was involved, and 
a subjection of fifteen years' duration to a foreign yoke; 
after having been signally preserved by a kind pro- 
vidence in the midst of the most critical circumstances, 
Geneva has again arisen to its ancient independence, 
and its stability has been confirmed by its union to 
Switzerland in the character of a distinct canton. The 
pretexts for civil dissensions are no longer in existence, 
while the public spirit, patriotism, and political union 
of its inhabitants, were never more vigorous or sin- 
cere than at the present day. Let us hope that the 
Genevese will ever pay that tribute of gratitude which 
is due to the Sovereign author of so many benefits, and 
that the light of divine truth will shine with redoubled 
lustre among them, after a season of such portentous 
darkness.* 

In the beginning of March, 1781, Mr. Fletcher took 
a final leave of Switzerland, and proceeded to the south 
of France, where he was engaged to meet his friend, 
Mr. Ireland, and to return with him from thence to 
England. Nothing particular is known of his journey, 
except that during the short time he stopped at Mont- 
pellier he somewhat impaired his health by too great 
exertion in the pulpit; and on their arrival at Paris, 

* Post tenebras lux, is the motto of the arms of Geneva. 



132 LIFE OF FLETCHER. 

his attendance on a sick person would have brought on 
him the censure of an intolerant church, had not Mr. 
Ireland, who was mistaken for him by the police offi- 
cers, quietly suffered them to remain in their error, 
until Mr. Fletcher, who was apprised of his danger, 
had proceeded too far on his journey to be overtaken. 
The friends afterwards joined each other, and arrived 
safely in England in the middle of April, after an ab- 
sence of three years and four months. 



LIFE OF FLETCHER. 133 



CHAPTER VIII 



HIS MARRIAGE — CHARACTERISTIC ANECDOTES VISIT TO IRE- 
LAND. 

About the time of Mr. Fletcher's taking orders he be- 
came acquainted with Miss Bosanquet, a young lady 
of respectable family and eminent piety; and one who 
in age, temper, and acquirements, appeared well calcu- 
lated to make him a suitable partner for life. From 
their first acquaintance they were deeply sensible of 
each other's worth, and felt the secret influence of a 
mutual attachment. But Mr. Fletcher's deep humility 
led him to despair of the accomplishment of his wishes; 
and his dread of finding in any other woman a hin- 
drance rather than an aid to his piety and usefulness, 
gave him, for a long time, a distaste to matrimony. 

For many years after this period little or no inter- 
course subsisted between them, though both were 
zealously engaged in the cause of religion. While he 
was exhausting his strength in the service of his flock, 
she was no less sedulously employed in devoting her 
time and fortune to the relief and instruction of the 

u 



134 LIFE OF FLETCHER. 

indigent and helpless. In these occupations they spent 
the prime of their days, rejoicing in the occasional ac- 
counts they had of each other's labours, without, how- 
ever, entering into any immediate correspondence. 

Towards the close of his last visit to his native coun- 
try, his attention was again directed to the subject of 
marriage. " I have been so well," said he, " that my 
friends have thought of giving me a wife: but what 
should I do with a Swiss wife at Madeley? I want ra- 
ther an English nurse, but more still a mighty Saviour ; 
and thanks be to God that I have one. Help me to 
rejoice in that never dying, never changing Friend." 
While, however, he objected to a Swiss lady, merely 
as such, he seems to have admitted the propriety of 
their general reasonings ; and, accordingly, a few weeks 
after his return to England, he renewed his acquaint- 
ance with Miss Bosanquet, and made her an offer of 
marriage. During the visits which he now paid her in 
Yorkshire, his conversation with all around him was 
highly edifying, and his deportment most exemplary. 
Renewed health, lively spirits, and the prospect of his 
approaching union, greatly contributed to the happy 
state of his mind at this period, and pleasingly exem- 
plified the connexion which subsists between exalted 
piety and substantial happiness. 

The following verse of a hymn was frequently on his 
lips, whilst his animated manner and expressive coun- 
tenance plainly showed that every chord of his heart 
harmonized with the expression: — 



'« Still, O my soul, prolong 
The never-ceasing song 



LIFE OP FLETCHER. 135 

Christ my theme, my hope, my joy : 

His be all my happy days. 
Praise my every hour employ : 

Every breath be spent in praise." 

It was during this period that Miss Ritchie, the pre- 
sent excellent Mrs. Mortimer of Islington, was first 
introduced to him. She had just returned from the 
Hot Wells, Bristol, where she had been for her health: 
their complaints had been similar, and both were much 
restored. Taking her kindly by the hand, Mr. Flet- 
cher addressed her in those blessed words of our 
Lord, "I am the resurrection and the life: he that 
believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he 
live." — " Sister, this is language with which you and I, 
and all that have been long walking around their own 
graves, ought to be very conversant." He then spoke 
to two other persons who were introduced to him, and 
turning again to Miss Ritchie, he added, "Sister, 
there is one article of our christian faith which all that 
have weak bodies ought to dwell much upon, that is, 
* I believe in the resurrection of the body.' " He then 
enlarged for a considerable time on the privileges 
which the believer will enjoy at that day, when death 
shall be swallowed up in victory. 

Monday, November 12th, was the day of his mar- 
riage, and was kept in a manner perfectly suitable to 
the very eminent piety of the parties. 

A few weeks after their union, speaking of Mrs. 
Fletcher, he said in a letter to a friend, " I have now 
a new call to pray for a fullness of Christ's holy, gen- 
tle, meek, loving spirit, that I may love my wife as he 
loved his spouse, the Church. But the emblem is 



136 LIFEOF FLETCHER. 

greatly deficient: the Lamb is worthy of his spouse, 
and more than worthy; whereas I must acknowledge 
myself unworthy of the yoke-fellow whom heaven 
has reserved for me, She is a person after my own 
heart ; and I make no doubt we shall increase the num- 
ber of the happy marriages in the church militant. 
Buried together in our country village, we shall help 
one another to trim our lamps, and wait, as I trust you 
do, continually, for the coming of the heavenly bride- 
groom." 

From this period Mr. Fletcher considered himself as 
possessed of the last possible addition to his earthly 
happiness ; never mentioning the memorable event of 
his marriage, without expressions of extraordinary 
gratitude to the God of all his mercies. And to the 
other parts of his character from this period must be 
added that of an attentive and affectionate husband, 
which he maintained with a becoming mixture of dig- 
nity and kindness to the day of his death. 

By her natural disposition and devotional habits, 
Mrs. Fletcher was peculiarly suited to a state of the 
most entire and intimate fellowship with this eminent 
servant of God. She was ten years younger than him- 
self, of equal standing with him in the school of Christ ; 
she had drank of the same spirit, was actuated by the 
same zeal, and prepared in every respect to accompany 
him in the christian race. By her discretion and pru- 
dence she bore the whole weight of his domestic 
cares ; while, by the natural activity of her mind, and 
her deep acquaintance with divine things, she second- 
ed his ministerial labours with astonishing success. In 
their separate stations they had long been distinguish- 



LIFE OF FLETCHER. 137 

ed as lights in a dark place ; and, after their union, 
they shone with redoubled lustre, dissipating the shades 
of prejudice which many had entertained against the 
truths of the gospel, and exemplifying the power and 
beauty of vital Christianity. 

"How shall I find language," said Mrs. Fletcher, 
"to express the goodness of the Lord! Not one of 
the good things have failed me of all the Lord my 
God hath spoken. Now I know no want, but that of 
more grace. I have such a husband as is in every 
thing suited to me. He bears with all my faults and 
failings in a manner that continually reminds me of 
that word, 'Love your wives as Christ loved the 
Church. ' His constant endeavour is to make me happy ; 
his strongest desire my spiritual growth. He is, in 
every sense of the word, the man my highest reason 
chooses to obey." 

Many months afterwards she adds, " No words can 
express the treasure I possess in our union. It is such 
as I had no idea was to be enjoyed in a marriage state ; 
and in proportion as I get nearer to God, I find a daily 
increase of that union ; — and yet I am enabled so to 
give him up to the Lord, that it holds my soul in a 
quiet dependence and sweet adherence to the will of 
God." 

It has already been mentioned that Mr. Fletcher's 
family was both ancient and noble: but he was so si- 
lent on every subject which would be considered as 
doing him honour, that very few of his most intimate 
friends were acquainted with the circumstance. Even 
Mrs. Fletcher, for some time after her marriage, sup- 
posed that he was sprung from very low parentage. 

m 2 



138 LIFE OP FLETCHER. 

One day, when, in the course of conversation, some- 
thing led to a discussion of the value of birth and for- 
tune* Mrs. Fletcher, probably from a delicacy of feel- 
ing for her husband, spoke with some contempt of 
such adventitious distinctions. " Surely, my love," 
said Mr. Fletcher, "you carry the matter too far; for 
though a christian will not be proud of birth and for- 
tune, nor despise another for wanting them, yet they 
are real and great advantages, if we improve them 
aright. When we speak of a respectable family, we 
mean to include not only some portion of wealth and 
rank, but also moral worth, education,, and polished 
manners. And how many and great are the advan- 
tages of spending our childhood and youth in the 
bosom of such a family, to say nothing of our happily 
escaping the many evils which attend humbler birth." 
"Well, my dear," said she, "you have got over the 
disadvantages of your humble birth." "You mis- 
take," he replied ; " my family is respectable ; I en- 
joyed every advantage I could wish." "I thought," 
said she, "you had been the son of a common sol- 
dier." "How came you to think so?" "When I 
first saw you, many years ago, one of the company 
asked you what your father was, and you answered, 
My father was a soldier." "I now recollect it," said 
Mr. Fletcher ; " and I said true, for my father was a 
General: not that I meant to conceal it, but I was then 
young in my English. I hesitated for a term ; and, 
seeing a private pass the window, I pointed to him and 
said, My father was a soldier; meaning to designate 
his profession, and not his rank." "But, my dear," 
observed Mrs. Fletcher, " when you must have per- 



LIFE OP FLETCHER. 139 

ceived our mistake by our astonishment, why did you 
not set us right?" " I certainly did perceive your in- 
nocent mistake/' Mr. Fletcher replied, "but it was 
not worth while either for me or you to correct it." 

A short time after this conversation took place, 
Mrs. Fletcher, while searching his desk for some 
paper, found a handsome seal. "Is this yours?" she 
inquired. "It is mine: but I have not used it for 
many years." " But why do you not use it?" " Had 
you examined it," said Mr. Fletcher, "you would 
not have asked the question. You see it bears a coro- 
net, nearly such as is the insignia of your English 
nobility. Were I to use that seal, it might lead to 
frivolous inquiries about my family; and, what is 
worse, subject me to the censure of valuing myself on 
such distinctions."* 

From the time of his marriage, Mr. Fletcher ex- 
perienced no return of his consumptive symptoms. — 
His general health also appeared materially improved, 
and his strength so far re-established, as to enable him 
to perform the whole duty of his parish without the 
assistance of a curate. 

Mr. Fletcher had long lamented the melancholy 
situation of poor uninstructed children; and had some 



* The last intimation Mrs. Fletcher had of the respectability of her hus- 
band's family was received from one of his nephews, who visited England 
after the death of his uncle. " You know 7 , aunt," said he, " that our fa- 
mily is allied to the house of Sardinia."" " No, my dear, I never heard 
any thing about it." " That is strange," said the young man ; M did ray 
uncle never tell you that we were allied to the house of Sardinia ?" " J\o r 
my dear," was the reply, " he did not; and he had so many good things to 
tell me, in which we both took so much interest, that it is not at all strange 
that he forgot to mention the house of Sardinia." 



140 LIFE OP FLETCHER. 

years before established a day-school in his parish, 
which he regularly superintended during his residence 
at Madeley. He now determined to form a Sunday 
school. Institutions of this description, though at the 
present day almost universal, were at that period 
nearly confined to a few of the principal towns in the 
kingdom. Finding that the attempts which he made 
were attended with considerable success, he urged 
upon his parishioners the importance of raising a suffi- 
cient sum for the erection of a suitable building for a 
school, in addition to an annual subscription for defray- 
ing its current expenses. 

He prefaced his proposals on this occasion by ob- 
serving, that our national depravity principally turned 
on these two hinges, the profanation of the Lord's- 
day, and the neglect of the education of children ; 
and that, till some way was found out of stopping up 
these two great inlets to wickedness, we must expect 
to see our workhouses filled with aged parents desert- 
ed by their prodigal children, with wives forsaken by 
their faithless husbands, and with the wretched off- 
spring of lewd women and drunken men. Nay, that 
we must expect to see our gaols largely stocked, to 
the perpetual reproach of our nation, with unhappy 
wretches, ready to fall a sacrifice to the laws of their 
country. He then held out, as the most probable re- 
medy for these growing evils, the formation of Sun- 
day schools ; which, by keeping children from cor- 
rupting one another, by promoting their attendance 
on Divine worship, and by implanting the first prin- 
ciples of useful knowledge in their minds, bid fair for 
a public reformation of manners, and for nipping in 



LITE OF FLETCHER. 141 

the bud the ignorance and impiety which are every- 
where so common among the lower classes of society. 
His proposals met with the general approbation and 
support of his parishioners ; and in a short time he 
was gratified with the sight of a convenient school- 
room, which was erected in one of the most populous 
parts of his parish. 

A short time before this period, the Rev. Melville 
Home, then a youth of seventeen years of age, was 
first introduced to Mr. Fletcher. " Allow me, Sir," 
said his fond and pious mother, who accompanied 
him, "to present to you a young christian." The 
pious vicar received him with his wonted benig- 
nity ; grasped his hand in both his own ; and then, 
lifting up his eyes to heaven, fervently exclaimed, 
"My brother, may the Lord make you an old 
christian!" 

The solemnity of the scene forcibly impressed the 
mind of his youthful guest, who, as often as circum- 
stances would allow, repeated his visits to Madeley. 
He is himself now advancing in the vale of years: but 
the impressions he received from his early intercourse 
with Mr. Fletcher are still fresh in his memory, and 
deeply engraven in his heart. "On all these visits," 
says he, in a recent letter to the writer of the present 
work, " I derived the highest pleasure and edification. 
I not only had the opportunity of hearing many ex- 
cellent sermons, but of seeing him in the privacies of 
life; and I know not which most to venerate, his 
public or private character. Grave and dignified in 
his deportment and manners, he yet excelled in all 
the courtesies and attentions of the accomplished gen- 



142 LIFE OP FLETCHER. 

tleman. In every company he appeared as the least, 
the last, and the servant of all. From head to foot, he 
was clothed with humility; while the heavenly-mind- 
edness of an angel shone from his countenance, and 
sparkled in his eyes. His religion was without labour, 
and without effort: — for Christianity was not only his 
great business, but his very element and nature. As 
a mortal man, he doubtless had his errors and failings: 
I — but what they were they who knew him best would 
find it difficult to say, for he appeared as an instrument 
of heavenly minstrelsy always attuned to the Master's 
touch. 

"In no one point was he observedly defective. But 
what above all endeared him to my esteem, love, and 
veneration, was his personal and private conduct. He 
most excelled in that in which other christians are 
most defective; and this 1 conceive to be the reason 
why his friends speak of him with an ardour of affec- 
tion, with a degree of veneration, almost bordering on 
adoration ; with a feeling which I can compare only 
to that which we entertain for patriarchs, prophets, 
and apostles. In every view, he was a great man, 
and entitled to rank in the very first class of minis- 
ters: but it was his goodness, which, even in the ever 
blessed God is the acme of moral greatness, that raised 
him above all the ministers of his day. Never can 
we forget the sweet spirit and fire of piety his conver- 
sation kindled in our breasts, and which is rekindled 
and raised into a flame at every recollection or men- 
tion of his virtues. But I forget myself: you asked 
only for a few anecdotes of Mr. Fletcher ; and with- 
out design, and before I was aware, I have been drawn 



LIFE OF FLETCHER. 143 

in to give you a sketch of his character: a very imper- 
fect and defective one ; yet, as far as it goes, faithful 
and true. Defective, however, as it is, it will not es- 
cape the censure which has been passed upon all his 
biographers, that they have delineated his portrait as 
more than man ; more at least than was seen in the 
best of his compatriots; and have been misled by the 
heated imagination of partial friendship, rather than 
followed the sober dictates of historical truth. For 
the general usefulness of your work, I wish you may 
escape the censure incurred by your predecessors: but 
your only chance of doing so is this, — you write of a 
man whom you did not know. 

« On my occasional visits/' continues Mr. Home, 
"I was struck with several things. Preaching on 
Noah as a type of Christ, he was in the midst of a 
most animated description of the terrible day of the 
Lord, when he suddenly paused. Every feature of his 
expressive countenance was marked with painful feel- 
ing ; and, striking his forehead with the palm of his 
hand, he exclaimed, 6 Wretched man that I am! Be- 
loved brethren, it often cuts me to the soul, as it does 
at this moment, to reflect, that while I have been en- 
deavouring, by the force of truth, by the beauty of 
holiness, and even by the terrors of the Lord, to bring 
you to walk in the peaceable paths of righteousness, I 
am, with respect to many of you who reject the gos- 
pel, only tying mill-stones round your neck, to sink 
you deeper in perdition!' The whole church was 
electrified, and it was some time before he could re- 
sume his subject. 

" On another occasion, after the morning service, 



144 LIFE OF FLETCHER. 

he asked if any of the congregation could give him 
the address of a sick man whom he was desired to 
visit. He was answered, c He is dead, Sir.' ' Dead ! 
dead!' he exclaimed; < another soul launched into 
eternity! What can I do for him now! Why, my 
friends, will you so frequently serve me in this 
manner? 1 am not informed you are ill, till I find 
you dying, or hear that you are dead.' Then sitting 
down, he covered his head with his gown ; and, 
when the congregation had retired, he walked home 
buried in sorrow, as though he had lost a friend or a 
brother. 

"One New- Year's day Gilbert and myself dined 
with him, as did also a pious young man and his wife. 
After he had entertained us with much pious and in- 
structive conversation, as we all stood around the fire, 
and were ready to separate, he took Gilbert's hand 
and mine, and joined them together. i You two young 
men/ said he, 'are united by blood, by friendship, by 
your common destination to the blesteed service of the 
sanctuary.' Then turning to the young man and his 
wife, ' Do yoti also, whom God hath joined in the 
tenderest of earthly bonds, join your hands, and I 
will take that of my beloved wife. And now what 
shall we render unto the Lord for all his benefits? 
What blessings have we received ! What mercies have 
followed us the last year! This is the first day of a 
new year. Let us give our whole soul to God. Let 
us start afresh on the road to immortality; and, for- 
getting the things that are behind, let us press towards 
the mark for the prize of our high calling in Christ 
Jesus.' Then lifting his eyes to heaven for three or 



LIFE OF FLETCHER. ■ 145 

four minutes, he prayed for us most fervently and af- 
fectionately. 

" All of Mr. Fletcher's opponents were able, and 
most of them humorous writers. This circumstance 
frequently obliged him, contrary to the habitual gra- 
vity of his character, to encounter them with their 
own weapons; and this perhaps made him pass for a 
bitter writer with those who could not bear to see 
their own sentiments treated with the same freedom 
with which they treated those of a contrary descrip- 
tion. They who wish to judge according to truth 
would do well to read Mr. Fletcher's works before 
they censure him ; and to bear in mind that the re- 
spect due to truth will justify a degree of freedom 
with doctrinal opinions, which esteem and love will 
not allow towards the persons of their advocates. I 
will not recriminate on his respectable opponents; 
but relate an anecdote which will exhibit his patience 
and gentleness under severe and rude censures. When 
apparently in dying circumstances at Bristol, a Dis- 
senting minister called upon him. Though he had 
been forbidden to converse, and the gentleman was a 
stranger, Mr. Fletcher admitted and received him with 
his usual courtesy. But the visitor, instead of con- 
versing on such subjects as were suitable to Mr. 
Fletcher's christian character and afflicted circum- 
stances, entered warmly on controversy; and told 
him, < He had better have been confined to his bed 
with a dead palsy, than have written so many bitter 
things against the dear children of God.' 'My bro- 
ther,' said Mr. Fletcher, ' I hope I have not been bitter. 
Certainly I did not mean to be so: but I wanted more 



146 LIFE OF FLETCHER. 

love then, and I feel I want more now/ This mild 
answer silenced him; and sent him away, I trust, bet- 
ter acquainted with Mr. Fletcher's spirit, and his own. 
They are not generally of the best spirit themselves, 
who are first to complain of the spirit of their oppo- 
nents. 

" In contests of humility, kindness, and affection, 
it was impossible to overcome Mr. Fletcher. Every 
one who knew him can produce instances of this kind. 
I shall mention only a few. The Rev. Moseley Cheek 
had once been preaching in his parish; and on their 
way home, in a dark night, and in a deep dirty road, 
Mr. Fletcher carefully held the lanthorn to him, while 
he himself walked through the mire. Pained to see 
his senior and superior so employed, he made fruitless 
attempts to take the lanthorn from him. 'What, my 
brother/ said Mr. Fletcher, * have you been holding 
up the glorious light of the gospel, and will you not 
permit me to hold this dim taper to your feet?' His 
friend, the Rev. Mr. Gilpin, perceiving a funeral wait- 
ing at the church-gate, took the surplice, and com- 
menced the service: but he had hardly got into the 
desk, when Mr. Fletcher, who had been visiting a 
sick person, came into the church; and gently draw- 
ing away a lad who was officiating in the absence of 
the clerk, took his place, and acted as clerk to Mr. 
Gilpin. When the service was ended, he observed, 
that he 6 could not bear to see the place of an inferior 
servant of the church improperly filled up, without 
attempting to supply it himself with a greater degree 
of decorum and reverence.' " 

Some of these anecdotes may at first sight appear 



LITE OF FLETCHER. 147 

too minute, too trivial, for publication: but when it is 
considered that they are highly descriptive of his ge- 
neral demeanour, it will probably be allowed that a 
Life of Fletcher would be incomplete without them. 
"The physiognomy," observes Rousseau, "does not 
show itself in great features, nor the character in great 
actions: it is in trifles that the natural disposition dis- 
covers itself." It is from this impression, that the fol- 
lowing anecdote is annexed from the work of his offi- 
cial biographer. " While Mr. Fletcher continued tutor 
at Tern Hall, he usually attended the church of the 
Rev. Mr. Cartwright, a man of whose piety and 
zeal he made frequent and honourable mention. It was 
the custom of this gentleman frequently to catechise 
in public the children of his parish. And on one of 
these occasions he requested that no person of maturer 
age, who stood in need of instruction, would esteem 
it a disgrace to appear in the number of the catechu- 
mens. When no one had condescension enough to oc- 
cupy so mean a station, Mr. Fletcher left his seat ; 
and, with an air of unaffected modesty, took his place 
among the children. " 

In the summer of 1783, Mr. and Mrs. Fletcher, in 
compliance with the. very earnest solicitations of some 
Irish friends, spent a few weeks in Dublin. " As we 
drove from our own door," says Mrs. Fletcher, '* and 
my dear husband was commending us to the protection 
of the Lord, that word rested on my mind with power, 
<I am thy shield.' When we passed the Birches, 
where a few years ago that remarkable phenomenon 
occurred, Mr. Fletcher pointed out to me the roads 
and fields which were so lately covered with the river. 



148 LIFE OP FLETCHER. 

We could not but be much amazed at the stupidity of 
the human heart. Most of the inhabitants seem almost 
to have forgotten the whole transaction! And we 
were led to observe, how vain is the common objec- 
tion to the miracles of our Lord, or to the sun's stand- 
ing still at Joshua's word, that they are not recorded 
in common history. Ah no! That which does not 
take hold on the sinful affections is soon lost and for- 
gotten! While we were conversing on the above sub- 
ject, we passed Eaton-Constadine, a little village ren- 
dered famous by the birth of that great servant of God, 
Mr. Baxter, w 7 ith whose spirit we joined our feeble act 
of worship before the throne. 

M At night we were affectionately received by Mrs. 
Glynne, of Shrewsbury, whose love to the children of 
God does not grow cold. May he, w T hohath promised 
the prophet's reward, repay her in time and eternity. 
While my dear husband w r as preaching that night, on 
the danger of being < ashamed of the gospel,' my heart 
yearned towards the people of that place ; and the cry 
of my spirit was, c that these people might live be- 
fore Thee.' " 

Towards the conclusion of this sermon, Mr. Flet- 
cher stated his sentiments respecting the eminent de- 
gree of holiness to which a christian might attain in 
this life. All the ministers of the place attended to 
hear him; and all but one remained to shake him by 
the hand after the service. That one was the princi- 
pal clergyman, a polished gentleman, and an old ac- 
quaintance. In the morning Mr. Fletcher, who sus- 
pected no offence, said to Mr. Gilbert, 6C 1 had not the 
pleasure last night of shaking hands with my friend 



fclfE OF nilTCHER. 149 

Mr. . I cannot think of quitting the town with- 
out seeing him. As you are acquainted with him, 
perhaps you will walk w r ith me." They, accordingly, 
called; and were introduced: but when he presented 
his hand with his usual respectful cordiality, it was 
rudely declined. u I never preach any thing," said 
his friend, "but what I experience. Do you, Mr. 
Fletcher, experience that eminent degree of holiness, 
that christian perfection, which you spoke of last 
night?" Unprepared for discussion, especially with 
an angry disputant, he answered mildly, " My dear 
brother, we serve the same blessed Lord ; — why then 
should we disagree, because our liveries are not turn- 
ed up exactly alike?" Finding his friend still rude 
and repulsive, he suddenly caught his hand; kissed it; 
and, bowing low, said, "God bless you, my brother," 
and retired. It is creditable to the religious princi- 
ples of this gentleman, that Mr. Fletcher's patient 
kindness was not without effect. On his return from 
Ireland his friend called upon him, apologized for his 
conduct in the handsomest terms, and treated him with 
the most respectful distinction. 

The next morning they pursued their journey as far 
as Llangollen in Wales. To their inquiry, as they 
walked about the town, whether there were any pious 
people in the place, one of the inhabitants informed 
them that some persons met together for prayer at the 
other end of the town, but he did not know any thing 
about them. " This very night," said another, " a man 
will preach to these praying people." Accordingly they 
went to the place, where they found a few poor peo- 
ple collected together in an antiquated building. The 

n2 



150 LIFE OF FLETCHER. 

preacher manifested the characteristic fervour of his 
nation: but their ignorance of the language prevented 
their understanding anything he said, except ogoniant 
and gwaed, glory and blood, which he often repeated 
with peculiar emphasis. On their return to the inn, a 
few persons who understood English, requested Mr. 
Fletcher to preach to them in the morning; which he 
did from these words, "This is his commandment, 
that we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus 
Christ, and love one another, as he hath given us com- 
mandment. " They then set off for Conway; on Fri- 
day afternoon reached Holyhead ; and about one o'clock 
on Sunday morning they cast anchor three miles from 
Dublin. 

During their continuance in Dublin, Mr. Fletcher's 
public and private exhortations were attended with a 
remarkable blessing. Numbers of careless persons 
were awakened to a sense of the importance of divine 
things, and the general tone of religion was evidently 
raised among the more serious characters with whom 
he conversed. " We now abide," says Mrs. Fletcher, 
" with our hospitable friends, Mr. and Mrs. Smyth, in 
William street, and have seen much of the Lord's 
hand in bringing us hither. My dear husband has 
been favoured with such an unction in preaching the 
word, that it distils 'as the dew upon the mown grass.' 
The preachers are truly simple pious men; and respect 
that command, \ In honour preferring one another.' 
They heartily rejoice in the message my dear husband 
delivers among them. Our kind and generous host 
and hostess too, allow us all freedom in their house, 
for the glory of God and the good of his people ; and 



LIFE OF FLETCHER. 151 

as their servants also are pious upright persons, we can 
here worship with them in calm and brotherly love." 
During this period he frequently preached at the 
French church in Dublin, which was attended by the 
descendants of the persecuted Huguenots. The first 
time he preached there he selected for his text, — Call 
to remembrance the former days, in ivhich, after 
you were illuminated, ye endured a great fight of 
afflictions; Hebrews x. 32. From whence he took 
occasion to refer to the sufferings and piety of their 
ancestors, and to enforce upon them the necessity of 
self-examination. Amongst his hearers were some 
persons who were totally unacquainted with the French 
language. Being questioned respecting the motives 
for their attendance, they instantly replied, "We 
went to look at him, for heaven seemed to beam from 
his countenance." This anecdote is so far interesting, 
as adding one testimony to innumerable others, of the 
deep impression which his amiable manners and hea- 
venly countenance made upon the minds of all who 
saw him. 

The last morning he passed at Dublin, some friends 
who were aware of his very limited income, earnestly 
pressed him to accept of a small purse, not as a pre- 
sent, but as a debt justly due to him, for the expenses 
he had incurred on his journey. For a long time he 
declined their offer: but at length, finding them ex- 
ceedingly importunate, he took the purse in his hand. 
"Well," said he, "do you really force it upon me? 
Must I accept of it? Is it entirely mine? And may 
I do with it as I please?" " Yes, yes," they all re- 
plied. " God be praised," said he, raising his eyes to 



152 LIFE OF FLETCHER. 

heaven. " Behold what a mercy is here? Your Poor's 
fund was just out; I heard some of you complaining 
that it was never so low before. Take this purse ; 
God has sent it to you, raised it among yourselves, and 
bestowed it upon your poor. You cannot deny me. 
It is sacred to them. God be praised ! I heartily thank 
you, my dear kind brethren." 

In compliance with Mr. Wesley's reiterated requests, 
Mr. Fletcher was sometimes present at his annual Con- 
ference, when his sermons and pious conversation be- 
came the theme of every tongue. On one of these 
occasions he was desired to pronounce the sentence of 
expulsion against a preacher ; and he performed this 
delicate and painful duty with such a happy mixture 
of solemnity, feeling, and affection, accompanied with 
such awful and pathetic warnings, as drew tears from 
every eye. At the same Conference he preached a 
sermon on the old prophet, who beguiled the man of 
God that came from Judah; in which he drew such a 
pathetic picture of the personal degradation and misery 
of a backsliding minister, and of the corruption and 
injury he introduced into the church of Christ, as pro- 
duced a general and deep sensation, not easily to be 
forgotten. 

At the last Conference he attended, when Mr. Wes- 
ley was about to read over his own name, and those of 
all the preachers, that any present might object to 
whatever was deemed reprehensible in them, Mr. 
Fletcher rose to withdraw. He was eagerly recalled, 
and asked why he would leave them. " Because," 
said he, " it is improper and painful to my feelings 
for me to hear the minute failings of my brethren can- 



LIFE OF FLETCHER. 153 

vassed, unless my own character were submitted to 
the same scrutiny." They promised, if he would 
stay, that his character should be investigated. On 
these terms he submitted ; and, when his name was 
read, an aged preacher rose, bowed to him, and said, 
66 1 have but one thing to object to Mr. Fletcher: God 
has given him a richer talent than his humility will 
suffer him duly to appreciate. In confining himself to 
Madeley, he puts his light comparatively under a 
bushel; whereas, if he would come out more among 
us, he would draw immense congregations, and would 
do much more good." In answer to this he stated the 
tender and sacred ties which bound him to his parish; 
its numerous population; the daily calls for his ser- 
vices; the difficulty of finding a proper substitute; his 
increasing infirmities, which disqualified him for horse- 
exercise; his unwillingness to leave Mrs. Fletcher at 
home ; and the expense of travelling in carriages. In 
reply to his last argument, another preacher arose, and 
observed, that the expense of his journeys would be 
cheerfully paid; and that, though he knew and highly 
approved of Mr. Fletcher's disinterestedness and deli- 
cacy in pecuniary transactions, yet he feared there was 
a mixture of pride in his objection, for that by no im- 
portunity could he be prevailed on to accept a present 
to defray his expenses on his late visit to Ireland. "A 
little explanation," replied Mr. Fletcher, with his cha- 
racteristic meekness, "will set that matter right. 
When I was so kindly invited to visit my friends at 
Dublin, I had every desire to accept their invitation: 
but I wanted money for the journey, and knew not 
how to obtain it. In this situation I laid the matter 



154 LIFE Oi 1 FLETCHER. 

before the Lord, humbly requesting that, if the jour- 
ney were a providential opening to do good, I might 
have the means of performing it. Shortly afterwards 
I received an unexpected sum of money, and took my 
journey. While in Dublin, I heard our friends com- 
miserating the distresses of the poor, and lamenting 
the inadequate means they had to relieve them. When, 
therefore, they offered me a handsome present, — what 
could I do? The necessary expenses of my journey 
had already been supplied; my general income was 
quite sufficient; I needed nothing. Had I received 
the money, I should have given it away. The poor of 
Dublin most needed, and were most worthy of, the 
money of their generous countrymen. How then 
could I hesitate to beg it might be applied to their re- 
lief? You see, brethren, I could not in conscience do 
otherwise than I did." 

But it was a sense of duty, rather than choice, which 
occasionally drew Mr. Fletcher from his own neigh- 
bourhood. He would willingly have lived and died 
among his people; and after every little excursion, he 
returned with increasing pleasure to his parish, and to 
the superintendance of his flock. 

The account he gave of himself about this time, is 
sobeautiful and characteristic, that it would be an in- 
jury to the reader to give it in any words but his 
own. "I keep," says he, " in my sentry-box till Pro- 
vidence remove me; my situation is quite suited to 
my little strength. I may do as much or as little as I 
please, according to my weakness. And I have an 
advantage which I can have nowhere else, in such a 
degree: my little field of action is just at my door; so 



LIFE OF FLETCHER. 155 

that, if I happen to overdo myself, I have but a step 
from my pulpit to my bed, and from my bed to my 
grave. If I had a body full of vigour, and a purse 
full of money, I should like well enough to travel 
about as Mr. Wesley does: but, as Providence does not 
call me to it, I readily submit. The snail does best in 
its shell. My wife is quite of my mind with respect 
to the call we have to a sedentary life. We are two 
poor invalids, who, between us, make half a labourer. 
She sweetly helps me to drink the dregs of life, and 
to carry with ease the daily cross. Neither of us are 
long for this world: we see it, we feel it; and, by 
looking at death and his conqueror, we fight before- 
hand our last battle with that last enemy, whom our 
dear Lord hath overcome for us." 

In the meantime nothing seemed hard, nothing wea- 
risome to him, which tended to produce the good of 
his neighbours. Mrs. Fletcher was frequently grieved 
to call him out of his study two or three times in an 
hour; especially when she knew he was engaged in 
some important work. But on such occasions he would 
answer, with his usual piety, " 0, my dear, never 
mind. It matters not, if we are but ready to meet the 
will of God. It is conformity to His will alone 
that makes any employment excellent." No occupa- 
tion ever appeared to him mean, or beneath his cha- 
racter, which was not sinful. If he overtook a poor 
person on the road, with a burden too heavy for him, 
he did not fail to offer his assistance to bear part of it; 
and, under such circumstances, he would not easily 
take a denial. To persons unacquainted with Mr. 
Fletcher, such instances might seem to border upon a 



156 LIFE OF FLETCHER. 

voluntary and ostentatious humility: but no one who 
was intimate with him would attribute them to any 
other cause than that eminent simplicity of heart, 
which was one of the most prominent features in his 
character. 

No employment of Mrs. Fletcher's seemed more 
pleasing to him than when she was engaged in prepar- 
ing food or medicine for the poor. On Sundays he 
provided for numbers of poor people who came to his 
church from a distance; for his house, as well as his 
heart, was devoted to their convenience. Indeed, he 
scarcely seemed ever to enjoy his meals, unless he 
knew that some sick or indigent neighbour should par- 
take of them. But, with all his generosity, he was 
still careful to live within his income. And as a 
means of effecting this, it was his custom to pay for 
everything when he purchased it ; considering at the 
same time that this method was best calculated to keep 
his mind disencumbered, and free from perplexing 
cares. In short, his property, his time, his all, might 
be considered as consecrated to the service of his 
flock. 

Thus quietly glided away the last years of this ex- 
cellent man ; blessed in himself, and an eminent bless- 
ing to all around him. "As he approached the end 
of his course," said Mr. Gilpin, "the graces he had 
kept in continual exercise for so long a season became 
more illustrious and powerful: his faith was more as- 
sured, his hope more lively, his charity more abun- 
dant, his humility more profound, and his resignation 
more complete. To those who were intimately con- 
versant with him at this season, he appeared as a 



LIFE OF FLETCHER. 157 

scholar of the highest attainments in the school of Christ; 
or, rather, as a regenerate spirit in his latest state of 
preparation for the kingdom of God : and this extra- 
ordinary eminence in grace was discoverable in him, 
not from any high external professions of sanctity, but 
from that meekness of wisdom, that purity of conver- 
sation, and lowliness of mind, by which his whole car- 
riage was uniformly distinguished. " 



158 LIFE OF FLETCHER. 



CHAPTER IX 



HIS LAST ILLNESS DEATH CHARACTER. 

A few weeks before the commencement of his last 
illness, Mr. Fletcher was peculiarly penetrated with a 
sense of the nearness of the eternal world. There 
was scarcely an hour in which he was not calling 
upon those around him to drop every worldly thought 
and care, and to prepare for the coming of the Lord. 
" I know not how it is," said he to Mrs. Fletcher, 
"but I have a strong impression, death is near us, as 
if it were to be some sudden stroke upon one of us. 
And it draws out all my soul in prayer, that we may 
be ready. Lord, prepare the soul thou wilt call. And 
stand by the poor disconsolate one that shall be left 
behind." ' 

A recent illness of Mrs. Fletcher, no doubt, increas- 
ed these serious impressions. « A week ago/' said he, 
"I was tried to the quick by a fever, with which my 
dear wife was afflicted: two persons whom she had 
visited having been carried off, within a pistol shot of 
our house, I dreaded her being the third. But the 
Lord hath heard prayer ; and she is spared. what 



LIFE OF FLETCHER. 159 

is life! On what a slender thread hang everlasting 
things! My comfort, however is, that this thread is 
as strong as the will of God, and the word of His 
grace, which cannot be broken." 

During this period he frequently reminded Mrs. 
Fletcher of the severe conflicts which a late friend of 
theirs, an eminently pious minister of Christ, had ex- 
perienced in his last hours. And as often as he ad- 
verted to this mysterious providence, he uniformly 
added, " Well, my love, let us think only of a holy 
life. As for the manner of our death, let us leave all 
to Him, who will do all things well." 

But it is here necessary to mention the following 
circumstances, in order to form an adequate idea of his 
feelings on this subject. Mr. Fletcher had many years 
before observed, in one of his sermons, that a godly 
life was the way to a happy death ; and that, in gene- 
ral, it might be admitted, that the consolation of our 
death would be in proportion to the piety of our lives. 
Nevertheless, he continued, that this, like all general 
rules, had its exceptions. Some good men were se- 
verely tried and tempted in their latter end, and this 
might be for more reasons than he could assign. The 
mortal machine might be partially or totally deranged. 
God might chastise former infidelities: he might suffer 
an eminent saint even to be tried to the utmost, for 
greater purification here, and to enhance his weight of 
glory ; or he might do it to secure the honour of his 
grace, and to show that he was debtor to none, — as 
well to discourage presumptuous claims for ourselves 
and others, as to prevent rash condemnations of such 
good men as died less comfortably than we wished, 



160 LIFE OF FLETCHER. 

and might have expected. Hence it was safer, wiser, 
and more scriptural, to judge of good men by the 
tenor of a godly life, than by the peculiar circum- 
stances of their death. These statements appeared to 
his friend, who was then present, liable to serious ob- 
jections. " I think," said he, " that in supposing that 
the LioM may permit his most faithful servants to be 
so severely tried, and even perhaps to die under a 
cloud, your doctrine is not only discouraging to the 
pious, but even bears hard upon the goodness and 
mercy of God our Saviour. I wish, on reflection, you 
could retract it." "My dear brother/' answered 
Mr. Fletcher, "I defer much to your better judg- 
ment ; and would gladly retract it, if I could do so 
with a safe conscience. God is good to all: but, as 
Sovereign, he gives more or less, where and when he 
pleases. Even as a righteous Judge, his understand- 
ing is unsearchable, and his ways beyond the reach of 
our thought. What we know not now, we shall know 
hereafter ; and though a righteous man die under the 
most afflictive circumstances,, doubtless it shall work 
for good." His friend, who was still dissatisfied with 
Mr. Fletcher's statements, was about a year after at- 
tacked by a mortal disease; and from a variety of cir- 
cumstances, none of which impeached his character as 
a christian, was overwhelmed with the deepest dis- 
couragement and dejection. It is not improbable that 
the recollection of his conversation with Mr. Fletcher, 
and of his own undue confidence, added to his disquie- 
tude. At length, in his expiring moments, his pale 
afflicted countenance assumed the aspect of angelic 
joy: he clasped his hands, and exclaimed, "My Be- 
loved is mine, and I am his ;" and died. 



LIFE OF FLETCHER. 161 

Under these circumstances it is not remarkable that 
Mr. Fletcher, as appears in a letter printed in his 
posthumous pieces, was beyond measure amazed at 
the manner of the death of this pious friend; while 
his implicitly submitting to the good pleasure of God 
every circumstance connected with his own disso- 
lution — equally regardless of personal pain, and of 
posthumous reputation, — affords a remarkable evi- 
dence of the most complete resignation to the will of 
heaven. 

The termination of his life and labours was indeed 
nearly at hand; and no less happy was he in the tri- 
umphal close of his mortal existence, (far beyond what 
his humble mind had ever dared to promise to him- 
self,) than in the accomplishment of his wish as to the 
occasion of his death. When an infectious fever had 
once been in his parish, and its ravages had intimi- 
dated even some of his pious flock from performing 
the offices of humanity and christian charity, he had 
reproved them to this effect: — " If the children of this 
world forsake their sick and dying friends from the 
fear of infection, I am not surprised. Their portion 
is in this world, and whatever menaces their life 
strikes at their all. But when christians, who profess 
to have their lives hid with Christ in God, are guilty 
of the same pusillanimous conduct, I am exceedingly 
astonished; for such conduct is a dereliction of the 
faith, hope, love, and every other principle of our 
holy religion. To what end hath Christ died and 
risen again, if his disciples, like other men, are to be in 
perpetual bondage to the fear of death? No, my 
brethren ; use every precaution prudence can suggest; 

o2 



162 LIFE OF FLETCHER, 

meekly, but confidently, commit yourselves to the 
gracious Power in whom you live; and then, without 
fear, stand firm to the calls of duty. Devolve all con- 
sequences upon him, who careth for you. We cannot 
die until he calls for our lives, and his time and way 
are the wisest and best. For myself, whenever I shall 
have numbered the days he may appoint, I shall deem 
it an additional honour and blessing, if he should ap- 
point me to meet my death while I am engaged in the 
kind offices of humanity and mercy." 

On Thursday, August 4, Mr. Fletcher was engaged 
in visiting several sick persons, and in other minis- 
terial duties, from three in the afternoon till nine at 
night. When he came home, he said that he had 
taken cold, but did not appear to apprehend any se- 
rious consequences. The next day he was far from 
being well, and on Saturday it was evident that a 
considerable degree of fever had been induced. No 
persuasion, however, could prevail upon him to stay 
from church on the Sunday, or even to permit that 
any part of the service should be performed for him. 
It was the will of the Lord, he said, that he should 
go; and he assured his wife and friends that God 
would strengthen him to go through the duties of the 
day. 

He began the service with apparent strength: but 
before he had proceeded far, his countenance changed, 
his speech faultered, and he could scarcely keep him- 
self from fainting. The congregation was greatly af- 
fected and alarmed ; and Mrs. Fletcher, pressing 
through the crowd, earnestly entreated him not to per- 
severe in attempting what was so evidently beyond 



m 



LIFE OF FLETCHER. 163 

his strength. He recovered, however, when the win- 
dows were opened; and, exerting himself against the 
mortal illness which he felt, he went through the ser- 
vice, and preached with remarkable energy. Mercy- 
was the subject of his discourse; and while he expa- 
tiated on this glorious attribute of the Deity, its un- 
searchable extent, its eternal duration, and its astonish- 
ing effects, he seemed to be raised above all the fears 
and feelings of humanity. His appearance and man- 
ner gave an irresistible influence to his words, for 
his hearers plainly saw that the hand of death was 
upon him. 

As soon as he had finished his sermon, he walked 
to the communion table. Here the same affecting 
scene was renewed with additional solemnity. Tears 
started from every eye, and sighs escaped from every 
breast, while his people beheld their minister offering 
up the last languid remains of a life that had been 
lavishly spent in their service. In going through this 
last part of his duty, he was frequently exhausted: but 
his spiritual vigour triumphed over his bodily weak- 
ness. At length, after having struggled through a 
service of some hours' continuance, he was supported, 
with blessings in his mouth, from the altar to his 
chamber, where he lay some time in a swoon, and 
from whence he never walked into the world again. 
Mr. Fletcher's friends entered so entirely into his de- 
votional feelings, that they were spared the bitter pang 
which they would otherwise have experienced from 
the reflection that these imprudent exertions exaspe- 
rated his disorder, and proved an acceleration of his 
death, 



164 LIFE OF FLETCHER. 

The death-bed of this excellent man presented to 
those who were permitted to witness it, a scene equally 
instructive with any part of his previous life. As the 
mercy of God, through Christ, had been his delightful 
theme while in health, so was it now his support and 
consolation in death. His reliance was not placed in 
any state of christian experience to which he had ar- 
rived, nor in any habit of consistent holiness in which 
he had been enabled to live ; it was founded simply 
and solely on the efficacy of the merits and atone- 
ment of the Redeemer. 

Mrs. Fletcher mentions that he manifested peculiar 
pleasure during his illness, whenever he repeated or 
heard the following lines: — 

" While Jesu's blood through earth and skies 
Mercy, free boundless mercy, cries ;" 

And that he would frequently add, — "Yes, bound 
less, — boundless — boundless/' 

" Mercy's full power I soon shall prove, 
Lov'd with an everlasting love." 

The solicitude which he felt for others during this 
period of his own extreme suffering manifests how 
largely he partook of the same mind, which was also 
in Christ Jesus. His parish, his family, his friends, 
all shared in his sympathies, and in his dying prayers. 
The indigent and afflicted part of his parishioners, 
who had so long experienced his tender care, still oc- 
cupied his peculiar attention. When he could not 
speak without great pain and difficulty, he pathetically 
cried out — O, my poor ; what will become of my 



LIFE OP FLETCHER. 165 

poor? 99 — and he could only find rest in his tender and 
affectionate spirit, by calmly committing them to the 
Lord. While his pious and endeared wife was kneel- 
ing by his side, with his hand enclosed in hers, he re- 
peatedly strove to comfort her by broken half-articu- 
lated expressions of tenderness and love. And when 
the powers of speech failed him, he intimated to her 
by expressive signs, the happiness which he felt in 
his God. At length, calling to his aid all his remain- 
ing powers, he piously breathed out — " Head of the 
Church, be Head of my ivife" His female attend- 
ant having said to him, " Oh, my dear master, should 
you be taken away, what a disconsolate creature will 
my poor dear mistress be," — he checked her fears; 
and attempted to dissipate her doubts, by reminding 
her, with mingled affection and confidence, that God 
would be her All in all. 

For his medical attendant also, whose kind assidui- 
ties he gratefully felt, but whose neglect of eternal 
things had excited within him deep concern, he dis- 
covered the most affecting anxiety. "0 Sir," he 
would say, even when he had scarcely any power to 
speak; — " Sir, you take much thought for my body, 
permit me to take thought for your soul." 

His sufferings during his illness were at times very 
acute and diversified: but he was raised completely 
above them. Mrs. Fletcher describes him as bearing 
all with such unutterable patience as no one, unless he 
were present, could possibly conceive. If at any time 
she spoke of his sufferings, he would only smile, and 
intimate his inward tranquillity and joy. 

His general attainments in Divine things had long 



166 LIFE OF FLETCHER. 

been of a very exalted kind. His uncommon power 
over sin, his habitual recollection, his uninterrupted 
communion with God, together with his extensive 
enjoyment of the graces and consolations of the 
Holy Spirit, had, for many years, marked him out 
as a christian of no ordinary standard. But towards 
the close of his life he was in the habit of expecting 
a yet greater fulness of spiritual enjoyments. The 
following lines, expressive of his desires, were fre- 
quently uttered by him as the language of his ardent 
mind: — 

" Stretch my faith's capacity 

Wider and yet wider still ; 
Then with all that is in Thee 

My soul for ever fill."-— Eph. iii. 19. 

And in answer to these his pious breathings he 
seemed, for a short time previous to his death, to 
have lived within the very precincts of the celestial 
world. 

Mr. Gilpin, with his usual felicity of expression, 
thus adverts to this his happy and triumphant state 
of mind: — "A few days before his dissolution he 
appeared to have reached that desirable point, where 
the last rapturous discoveries are made to the souls of 
dying saints. Roused, as it were, with the shouts of 
angels, and kindled into rapture with visions of glory, 
he broke forth into a song of holy triumph, which 
began and ended with the praises of God's unfathoma- 
ble love. He laboured to declare the secret manifes- 
tations he enjoyed: but his sensations were too pow- 
erful for utterance; and, after looking inexpressible 



LIFE OF FLETCHER. 167 

things, he contented himself with calling upon all 
around him to celebrate that adorable love which can 
never be fully comprehended, nor adequately express- 
ed. This triumphant frame of mind was not a tran- 
sient feeling, but a state that he continued to enjoy, 
with little or no discernible interruption, to the mo- 
ment of his death. While he possessed the power of 
speech, he spake as one whose lips had been touched 
with a live coal from the altar; and, when deprived 
of that power, his countenance discovered that he was 
secretly engaged in the contemplation of eternal 
things." 

Thus passed away the first six days of Mr. Fletcher's 
illness. On the following Sunday earnest supplica- 
tions were offered up, in the house of God, for his re- 
covery, whilst an air of solemn sadness pervaded the 
whole village. Hasty messengers were seen passing 
to and fro with anxious inquiries and confused reports; 
and the members of every family awaited, with trem- 
bling expectation, the issue of every hour. After the 
evening service several of the poor, who came from a 
distance, and were usually entertained under his roof, 
lingered about the house, and at length expressed an 
earnest desire to be permitted once more to behold 
their expiring pastor. Their request was granted. 
The door of his chamber was set open : directly op- 
posite to which he w T as sitting upright in bed, 
unaltered in his appearance; and as they slowly 
passed along the gallery, one by one, they paused 
at the door, with a look of mingled supplication and 
anguish. 

A few hours after this affecting scene he breathed 



168 LIFE OP FLETCHER. 

his last, without a struggle or a groan. At the mo- 
ment of his departure Mrs. Fletcher was kneeling by 
his side ; a domestic, who had attended him with an 
uncommon assiduity, was seated at his head ; and his 
respected friend, Mr. Gilpin, was sorrowfully standing 
near his feet. Uncertain whether he had actually ex- 
pired, they pressed near, and hung over his bed in the 
attitude of listening attention. His lips had ceased to 
move, and his head was gently sinking upon his bo- 
som. They stretched out their hands: but his war- 
fare was accomplished, and his happy spirit had taken 
its everlasting flight. Such was the end of this emi- 
nently holy and laborious servant of God, who enter- 
ed into his rest on the evening of Sunday, August 14, 
1785, in the fifty-sixth year of his age. " Three years, 
nine months, and two days," said his disconsolate wi- 
dow, "I have possessed my heavenly-minded hus- 
band. But now the sun of my earthly joys is set for 
ever, and my soul filled with an anguish, which only 
finds its consolation in a total resignation to the will 
of God." 

Mr. Fletcher had frequently expressed an earnest 
desire that he might be buried in the plainest manner 
possible. "Let there be no pomp/' he would say, 
"no expense, no ceremony, at my funeral. The cof- 
fin of the parish poor will suit me best." To these 
instructions his affectionate widow religiously adhered. 
A plain oak coffin, with a steel plate, conveyed his 
honoured remains to their long home, without a pall, 
pall-bearers, scarf, or hat-band. But two thousand of 
his parishioners followed him to the grave, who mani- 
fested, by all the signs of unaffected sorrow, their af- 
fliction for their irreparable loss. 



LIFE OP FLETCHER. 169 

As to the person of this great and good man, — he 
was above the middle stature, strongly built, and well 
proportioned. The contour of his face was interest- 
ing and noble; his eye was active and penetrating; 
his nose was moderately aqueline; and his whole 
countenance such as peculiarly accorded with the ex- 
traordinary grace and elevation of his character. His 
deportment and manners were of the most engaging 
and courteous kind, presenting such a combination of 
gravity, condescension, and gentleness, as few have 
ever witnessed. Humility and dignity are seldom 
seen familiarly associated in the same person: but in 
this master of Israel they grew together in so exact a 
proportion that, while he everywhere exhibited a sort 
of angelic superiority in his air, his carriage, and his 
conversation, that superiority was inseparably blended 
with all the meekness and simplicity of a little child. 

His figure was wonderfully adapted to all the sacred 
offices he had to perform: but of his appearance in the 
pulpit it may especially be said, that the liveliest fancy 
could not frame for any of the ancient saints an aspect 
more venerable or apostolic. 

Having followed this holy and exemplary man 
through the interesting and instructive scenes of his 
pious and laborious life, and having likewise attended 
him to its solemn and affecting close, it may be well 
to conclude the narrative with a few general observa- 
tions respecting him as a writer, a clergyman, and a 
christian. 

As a writer, Mr. Fletcher was considerably above 
mediocrity. The principal defects in his style were, 
an exuberant diffuseness, and national floridness of ex- 

p 



1 70 LIFE OF FLETCHER* 

pression. In some of his private letters also, there is 
an occasional quaintness of phraseology, which too 
often accompanies religious correspondence. Rich, 
however, in their intrinsic excellence, they will ever 
be read by truly pious persons with peculiar pleasure, 
and will perhaps be regarded by them as the most va- 
luable part of his writings. 

His Checks to Antinomianism, his Appeal to matter 
of fact, his political, and in short the whole of his 
other publications, manifest a degree of elegance, force, 
and correctness of expression, which would hardly 
have been expected from a foreigner. His imagina- 
tion is always lively; his descriptions are animated; 
his illustrations remarkably happy, and his reasoning 
acute, clear, and convincing. Had he been a candi- 
date for literary distinction, he had talents to have oc- 
cupied no inconsiderable rank, either as a humourist, 
a poet, or an impassioned writer. But the piety which 
predominated in his mind not only diffused itself 
through his writings, but directed his attention almost 
exclusively to subjects of a religious nature.* 

As a clergyman, he was never exceeded in zeal, dis- 
interestedness, affection for his flock or anxiety for 
their spiritual welfare. His heart was in his profes- 

* Considering Mr. Fletcher a9 a man of general literature, who in early 
life had been well acquainted with the poets and dramatic authors of Greece, 
Rome, and France, his neglect of works of mere genius and imagination, 
was perhaps more extraordinary than his indifference to family distinctions. 
One trait on this subject may suffice. Not long before his death, a friend, 
in the course of conversation, cited a passage from Shakspeare, when Mr. 
Fletcher said, — «* You will think it asstrange as it is true, that though I have 
heard so much in the praise of your immortal Shakspeare, and have often 
wished to read him, yet to this day I have been so much occupied, that I 
never could find time to do so." 



LIFE OF FLETCHER. 171 

sion, and he was carried on with an impetus which no 
opposition or discouragement was able to counteract. 
He did not consider the wprk of the ministry as a 
mere duty; it was his pleasure and delight: and if, in 
the discharge of this important work, his health and 
strength declined, and became eventually a sacrifice to 
the ardour of his feelings, it cannot be regarded as a 
matter of surprise. The votary of pleasure may be 
told that his course of life will injure his health, 
exhaust his finances, and finally ruin him. He will 
admit the justness of the remark: but he will still perse- 
vere ; for life would seem to be tolerable without his 
accustomed pursuits. And such was the persevering 
ardour of this truly apostolic man: " Instant in sea- 
son, and out of season;" "always abounding in 
the work of the Lord" 

The principal, the only defect that appeared in his 
clerical character, was a disregard of some of those 
prudential regulations and parochial restrictions which 
are so scrupulously observed by the generality of the 
clergy of the established church. ^The fact appears to 
have been, that the abundant current of his charity, 
too large for any single channel, flowed in affection to- 
wards all; while the ardour of his zeal, ever prompt- 
ing him to the most extensive usefulness, did not stop 
to calculate upon those remote consequences which a 
more accurate attention to the subject might have pre- 
sented to his mind. " God forbid," said he, " that I 
should exclude from my brotherly affection, and occa- 
sional assistance, any true minister of Christ, because 
he casts the gospel-net among the Presbyterians, the 
Independents, the Quakers, or the Baptists. If they 



172 LIFE OF FLETCHER. 

will not wish me good luck in the name of the Lord, 
I will do it to them. They may excommunicate me, 
if their prejudices prompt them to it. They may 
build up a wall of partition between themselves and 
me: but in the strength of my God, whose lore is as 
boundless as his immensity, / will leap over the 
wall." 

As a christian, he shone pre-eminent, 

M Velut inter ignea 



Luna rainores."* 



Faith, patience, spirituality, deadness to the world, 
humility, meekness, purity, and every grace which 
can adorn the human mind, seemed to have in him 
their perfect work. "They who saw him only at a 
distance," observes Mr. Gilpin, " revered him as a 
man of God; while they who enjoyed a nearer ac- 
quaintance with him were held in a state of constant 
admiration at his attainments in the divine life. He 
appeared to enjoy an uninterrupted fellowship with the 
Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. Every day was 
with him a day of solemn self-dedication, and every 
hour an hour of praise or prayer. Naturally formed 
for pre-eminence, no common degrees of grace were 
sufficient to satisfy his unbounded desires. He tower- 
ed above the generality of christians, earnestly desir- 
ing the best gifts, and anxious to walk in the most ex- 
cellent way. While others are content to taste the 
living stream, he traced that stream to its source, and 
lived at the fountain-head of blessedness. To those 

* Like the moon among the lesser stars. — Horace. 



LIFE OP FLETCHER. 173 

who were much conversant with him, he appeared as 
an inhabitant of a better world; so perfectly dead was 
he to the enjoyments of the present life, and so wholly 
detached from its anxious cares. Wherever he was 
called by the providence of God, he was acknowledg- 
ed as a burning and shining light. The candle of 
the Lord eminently shone upon his head, and the se- 
cret of God was upon his tabernacle. When he 
went out through the city, or took his seat in the 
company of the righteous, he was saluted with unu- 
sual reverence, and received as an angel of God. The 
young men saw him, and hid themselves; and the 
aged arose, and stood up. Even those who were 
honoured as princes among the people of God, refrain- 
ed talking, and laid their hands upon their mouth. 
When the ear heard him, then it blessed him; and 
when the eye saw him, it gave witness unto him. His 
character was free from those inconsistencies which 
are too generally observable among the professors of 
Christianity. Whether he sat in the house, or whether 
he walked by the way ; in his hours of retirement, 
and in his public labours, he was constantly actuated 
by the same spirit. When he spoke, his conversation 
was in heaven; and, when he was silent, his very air 
and countenance bespoke an angelic mind, absorbed in 
the contemplation of God. In all the changing cir- 
cumstances of life, he looked and acted like a man 
whose treasure was laid up in heaven. There his af- 
fections were immoveably fixed; and thitherward he 
was continually tending, with all the power of his 
soul. He spoke of heaven as the subject of his con- 
stant meditation; and looked to it, as travellers to their 

p2 



174 LIFE OP FLETCHER. 

appointed home. He was an instrument always in tune; 
and none can tell, but those who have heard, how sweet- 
ly it would answer to the touch of Him. who strung 
it. He was an instrument of uncommon compass, and 
wondrously adapted to every occasion. Every breath 
that swept over the chords of this living lyre drew 
from it some according sound: — if from man, it pro- 
duced strains of affection and sympathy; — if from God, 
it called forth higher sounds of gratitude and devo- 
tion." 

To the above testimony is subjoined the following 
from the Rev. John Venn, late vicar of Huddersfield 
and Yelling ; and it derives additional importance from 
the consideration that that excellent man maintained 
some of those controverted tenets which Mr. Fletcher 
deemed it his duty to oppose. "Fletcher," says he, 
"was a luminary; — a luminary did I say? — he was a 
sun. I have known all the great men for these fifty 
years: but I have known none like him. I was inti- 
mately acquainted with him, and was once under the 
same roof with him for six weeks together; during 
which time I never heard him say a single word which 
was not proper to be spoken, and which had not a ten* 
dency to minister grace to the hearers." 



LETTERS 



OF THE 



REV. J. W. FLETCHER, 

FROM HIS POSTHUMOUS WORKS, 



EDITED BY 



THE REV. MELVILLE HORNE. 



LETTERS 



Terx, November 24th, 1756. 

THE BET. MR. JOHN WESLEY, 

Reverend Sir* 

As I look upon you as my spiritual guide, and 
cannot doubt of your patience to hear, and your expe- 
rience to answer a question, proposed by one of your 
people, I freely lay my case before you. 

Since the first time I began to feel the love of God 
shed abroad in my soul, which was, I think, at seven 
years of age, I resolved to give myself up to him, and 
to the service of his church, if ever I was fit for it; 
but the corruption which is in the world, and that 
which was in my heart, soon weakened, if not erased, 
those first characters, which grace had written upon 
it. However, I went through my studies, with a de- 
sign of going into orders; but afterwards, upon serious 
reflection, feeling I was unequal to so great a burden, 
and disgusted by the necessity I should be under to 
subscribe to the doctrine of predestination, I yielded 
to the desire of my friends, who would have me to go 
into the army; but just before I was quite engaged in 
a military employment, I met with such disappoint- 



178 LIFE OP FLETCHER. 

ments as occasioned my coming to England. Here I 
was called outwardly three times to go into orders ; 
but upon praying to God, that if those calls were not 
from him, they might come to nothing, something al- 
ways blasted the designs of my friends; and in this, I 
have often admired the goodness of God, who pre- 
vented my rushing into that important employment, as 
the horse into the battle. I never was more thankfui 
for this favour, than since I heard the gospel in its 
purity. Before I had been afraid, but then I trem- 
bled to meddle with holy things; and resolved to work 
out my salvation privately, without engaging in a way 
of life, which required so much more grace and gifts 
than I was conscious I possessed ; yet, from time to 
time, I felt warm and strong desires to cast myself 
and my inability on the Lord, if I should be called any 
more, knowing that he could help me, and show his 
strength in my weakness: and these desires were in- 
creased by some little success, which attended my ex- 
hortations and letters to my friends. 

I think it necessary to let you know, Sir, that my 
patron often desired me to take orders, and said, he 
would soon help me to a living ; to which I coldly an- 
swered, I was not fit, and that, besides, I did not 
know how to get a title. The thing was in that state 
when about six weeks ago, a gentleman, I hardly 
knew, offered me a living, which, in all probability, 
will be vacant soon; and a clergyman, I never spoke 
to, gave me, of his own accord, the title of curate to 
one of his livings. Now, Sir, the question which I beg 
you to decide is, whether I must and can make use of 
that title to get into orders? For, with respect to the 



LIFE OF FLETCHER. 179 

living, were it vacant, I have no mind to it; because, 
I think, I could preach with more fruit in my native 
country, and in my own tongue. 

1 am in suspense: on one side my heart tells me I 
must try, and it tells me so whenever I feel any de- 
gree of the love of God and man: on the other, when 
I examine, whether I am fit for it, I so plainly see my 
want of gifts, and especially of that soul of all the la- 
bours of a minister, love, continual, universal, flaming 
love, that my confidence disappears; I accuse myself 
of pride to dare to entertain the desire of supporting 
one day the ark of God, and conclude that an extra- 
ordinary punishment will, sooner or later, overtake 
my rashness. As I am in both of these frames succes- 
sively, I must own, Sir, I do not see which of these two 
ways before me, I can take with safety; and I shall 
gladly be ruled by you ; because, I trust, God will di- 
rect you in giving me the advice, you think will best 
conduce to his glory, which is the only thing I would 
have in view in this affair. I know how precious your 
time is, and desire no long answer, — persist or forbear 
will satisfy and influence, reverend Sir, your unworthy 
servant, I. F. 



London, Nov. 15M, 1759. 

THE RET. M It. CHARLES WESLEY. 

My Dear Sir, 

Your letter was not put into my hand till eight days 
after my arrival in London. I carried the enclosed 



180 LIFE OF FLETCHER. 

agreeably to its address, and passed three hours with 
a modern prodigy — -an humble and pious Countess. I 
went with trembling, and in obedience to your orders; 
but I soon perceived a little of what the disciples felt, 
when Christ said to them, "It is I, be not afraid." 
She proposed to me something of what you hinted me 
in your garden: namely, to celebrate the communion 
sometimes at her house of a morning, and to preach 
when occasion offered ; in such a manner, however, as 
not to restrain my liberty, nor to prevent my assisting 
you, or preaching to the French Refugees; and that 
only till Providence should clearly point out the path 
in which I should go. Charity, politeness, and reason, 
accompanied her offer; and I confess, in spite of the 
resolution which I had almost absolutely formed, to fly 
the houses of the great, without even the exception of 
the Countess's, I found myself so greatly changed, that 
I should have accepted on the spot, a proposal which I 
should have declined from any other mouth ; but my 
engagement with you withheld me ; and thanking the 
Countess, ] told her, when I had reflected on her oblig- 
ing offer I would do myself the honour of waiting 
upon her again. 

Nevertheless, two difficulties stand in my way. Will 
it be consistent with that poverty of spirit which I seek? 
Can I accept an office for which I have such small ta- 
lents; and shall I not dishonour thecauseof God by stam- 
mering out the mysteries of the gospel in a place where 
the most approved ministers of the Lord have preached 
with so much power, and so much success? I suspect 
that my own vanity gives more weight to this second 
objection than it deserves to have: what think you? 



LIFE OF FLETCHER. 181 

A' 

I give myself up to your judicious counsels ; you take 
unnecessary pains to assure me that they are disinter- 
ested, for I cannot doubt it. I feel myself unworthy of 
them ; much more still of appellation of friend, with 
which you honour me. You are an indulgent father to 
me, and the name of son suits me better than that of 
brother. 

You ask "whether I can, with confidence, give you 
up to the mercy of God?" Yes, I can, and I feel that 
for you which I do not for myself; I am so assured of 
your salvation, that I ask no other place in heaven than 
that I may have at your feet. I doubt even if paradise 
would be a paradise to me, unless it were shared with 
you; and the single idea which your question excited, 
that we might one day be separated, pierced my heart, 
and bathed my eyes with tears. They were sweet tears 
which seemed to water and confirm my hope, or rather 
the certainty I have, that He who hath begun a good 
work in us, will also finish it, and unite me to you in 
Christ, by the bonds of an everlasting love: and not 
only to you, but to your children and your wife, whom 
I salute in Christ. Adieu. I am, &c. I. F. 



Madeley, Nov. 22, 1762. 

THE REV. MR. CHARLES WESLEY. 

Mr Dear Sir, 

The debates about the illegality of exhorting in 
houses (although only in my own parish) grew, some 
time ago, to such a height, that I was obliged to lay my 

Q 



182 LIFE OP FLETCHER. 

reasons before the bishop; but his Lordship very pru- 
dently sends me no answer. I think he knows not how 
to disapprove, and yet dares not approve, this metho- 
distical way of procedure. 

Brother Ley arrived safe here yesterday, and con- 
firms the melancholy news of many of our brethren 
overshooting sober and steady Christianity in London. 
I feel a great deal for you and the church in these cri- 
tical circumstances. that I could stand in the gap! 
that I could, by sacrificing myself, shut this im- 
mense abyss of enthusiasm which opens its mouth 
among us! 

The corruption of the best things is always the worst 
of corruptions. Going into an extreme of this nature, 
or only winking at it, will give an eternal sanction to 
the vile aspersions cast, on all sides, on the purest doc- 
trines of Christianity; and we shall sadly overthrow — 
overthrow, in the worst manner, what we have endea- 
voured to build for many years. 

The nearer the parts that mortify are to the heart, 
the more speedily is an amputation to be resolved upon. 

You will say, perhaps, "But what if the heart it- 
self is attacked?" Then let the heart be plucked out 
as well as the right eye. Was not Abraham's heart 
bound up in the life of Isaac? Yet he believed that if 
he offered him up, God was able to restore him, even 
from the dead ; and was not God better to him than 
his hopes? 

I have a particular regard for M and B ; 

both of them are my correspondents: I am strongly 
prejudiced in favour of the witnesses, and do not wil- 
lingly receive what is said against them ; but allowing 



LIFE OF FLETCHER. 183 

that what is reported is one half mere exaggeration, 
the tenth part of the rest shows that spiritual pride, 
presumption, arrogance, stubbornness, party spirit, un- 
charitableness, prophetic mistakes — in short, thatevery 
sinevv of enthusiasm is now at work in many of that 
body. I do not credit any one's bare word, but I 
ground my sentiments on B -'s own letters. 

May I presume, unasked, to lay before you my mite 
of observation. If I had it in my power to overlook 
the matter, as you have, would it be wrong in me 
calmly to sit down with some unprejudiced friends, 
and lovers of both parties, and fix with them the marks 
and symptoms of enthusiasm ; then insist, at first in 
love, and afterwards, if necessary, with all the weight 
of my authority, upon those who have them, or plead 
for them, either to stand to the sober rule of Christianity, 
or openly to depart from us? 

Fear not, dear sir, the Lord will take care of the 
ark; and though hundreds of Uzziahs should fall off, 
most of them would return with Noah's dove. Have 
faith in the word, and leave the rest to Providence. — 
" The Lord will provide," is a comfortable motto for a 
believer. I am, with most hearty prayers, that God 
would fill you, more than ever, with wisdom, steadi- 
ness, meekness, and fortitude, Rev. and dear sir, &c. 

L R 



Madeley, March 5th, 1764. 

MISS HATTON. 

You seem, Madam, not to have a clear idea of the 
happiness of the love of Jesus, or, at least, of your 



184 



LIFE OF FLETCHER. 



privilege of loving him again. Your dullness in pri- 
vate prayer arises from the want of familiar friendship 
with Jesus. To obviate it, go to your closet as if you 
were going to meet the dearest friend you ever had ; 
cast yourself immediately at his feet, bemoan your 
coldness before him, extol his love to you, and let your 
heart break with a desire to love him, till it actually 
melts with his love. Be you, if not the importunate 
widow, at least the importunate virgin, and get your 
Lord to avenge you of your adversary — I mean your 
cold heart. 

You ask me some directions to get a mortified spirit: 
in order to get it, get Recollection. 

Recollection is a dwelling within ourselves; a being 
abstracted from the creature, and turned towards God. 

Recollection is both outward and inward. Outward 
recollection consists in silence from all idle and super- 
fluous words; and in solitude or a wise disentanglement 
from the world, keeping to our own business, observing 
and following the order of God for ourselves, and shut- 
ting the ear against all curious and unprofitable matters. 
Inward recollection consists in shutting the door of the 
senses in a deep attention to the presence of God, and 
in a continual care of entertaining holy thoughts, for 
fear of spiritual idleness. 

Through the power of the Spirit, let this recollection 
be steady even in the midst of hurrying business; let it 
be calm and peaceable; and let it be lasting, "Watch 
and pray, lest you enter into temptation." 

To maintain this recollection, beware of engaging 
too deeply, and beyond what is necessary, in outward 
things; beware of suffering your affections to be entan- 



LIFE OP FLETCHER. 185 

gled by worldly desires, your imagination to amuse 
itself with unprofitable objects, and indulging yourself 
in commission of what are called small faults. 

For want of continuing in a recollected frame all 
the day, our times of prayer are frequently dry and 
useless, imagination prevails, and the heart wanders ; 
whereas we pass easily from recollection to delightful 
prayer. Without this spirit, there can be no useful 
self-denial; nor can we know ourselves; but where it 
dwells, it makes the soul all eye, all ear; traces and 
discovers sin, repels its first assaults, or crushes it in its 
earliest risings. 

In recollection let your mind act according to the 
drawings of grace, and it will probably lead you, either 
to contemplate Jesus as crucified, and interceding for 
you, &c. or to watch your senses and suppress your pas- 
sions, to keep before God in respectful silence of heart, 
and to watch and follow the motions of grace, and feed 
on the promises. 

But take care here to be more taken up with the 
thoughts of God than of yourself; and consider how 
hardly recollection is sometimes obtained, and haw 
easily it is lost. Use no forced labour to raise a parti- 
cular frame; nor tire, fret, and grow impatient, if you 
have no comfort; but meekly acquiesce and confess 
yourself unworthy of it; lie prostrate in humble sub- 
mission before God, and patiently wait for the smiles 
of Jesus. 

May the following motives stir you up to the pur- 
suit of recollection: 1st. We must forsake all and die 
to all first by recollection. 2d. Without it God's voice 
can't be heard in the soul. 3d. It is the altar on which 

Q2 



185 LIFE OT FLET0HEE. 

we must offer up our Isaacs. 4th. It is instru mentally 
a ladder (if I may be allowed the expression) to as- 
cend into God. 5th. By it the soul gets to its centre,, 
out of which it cannot rest. 6th. Man's soul is the 
temple of God — recollection the holy of holies. — 
7th. As the wicked, by recollection, find hell in their 
hearts, so faithful souls find heaven. 8th, Without 
recollection all means of grace are useless^ or make 
but a light and transitory impression. 

If we would be recollected, we must expect to suf- 
fer. Sometimes God does not speak immediately to 
the heart ; we must, then, continue to listen with a 
more humble silence. Sometimes assaults of the heart 
or of the temper may follow, together with weariness, 
and a desire to turn the mind to something else: here 
we must be patient — by patience unwearied we inherit 
the promises. 

Dissipated souls are severely punished. If any man 
abide not in Christ, he is cast out as a branch — cast 
out of the light of God's countenance into the drudgery 
of the senses. He dries up, and £ barrenness follows 
in the use of the means. The world and Satan gather 
and use him for their service. He is cast into the fire 
of the passions of guilt, of temptation, and, perhaps,, 
of hell. 

As dissipation always m^etsits punishment, so recol- 
lection never fails of its reward . After patient waiting 
comes communion with God, and the sweet sense of 
his peace and love. Recollection is a castle, an invio- 
lable fortress against the world and the devil: it ren- 
ders all times and places alike, and is the habitation 
where Christ and his Bride dwell. 



LIFE OF FLETCHER. 187 

I give you these hints, not to set Christ aside, but 
that you may, according to the light and power given 
to you, take those stones and place them upon the chief 
corner-stone, and cement them with the blood of Jesus, 
until the superstructure, in some measure, answers to 
the excellence of the foundation. I beg an interest hi 
your prayers, for myself, and those committed to my 
charge, and am, with sincerity, madam, your servant 
for Christ's sake, I. F. 



Madeley, September 3, 1764. 

MISS EATTON. 

Madam, 

I think the state your soul is in is not uncommon. 
The only advice I can at present give, is not to look to 
self, except it be to believe it away. Be generously 
determined not to live easy, without the thought of 
Jesus on your mind, and his love, or at least endea- 
vours after it, in your heart. Then get that love, or 
the increase of it, by obstinately believing the love of 
Christ to you, till you are ashamed into some return 
of it. A passage I have found much relief from, when 
my soul hath been in the state you describe, is, "Like- 
wise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto 
sin, but alive unto God, through Jesus Christ our 
Lord.*" This reckoning by faith, I find, is not reck- 
oning without one's host; but Christ is always ready to 
set his hand to the bill which faith draws. 

♦Rom. vi. 11* 



188 LIFE OF FLETCHER* 

With respect to the hindrances your worldly busi- 
ness lays in the way of your soul, I would have you 
persuaded that they are by no means insurmountable. 
The following means, in due subordination to faith in 
Jesus, may, by the blessing of God, be of service to 
you. 

1st. Get up early, and save time before you go to 
business, to put on the whole armour of God, by close 
meditation and earnest prayer. 

2d. Consider the temptation that most easily besets 
you, whether it be hurry, or vanity, or lightness, or 
want of recollection to do what you do as unto God. 
Ponder the consequences of those sins, see your weak- 
ness to resist them, and get at any rate a more feeling 
sense of your helplessness; when you have it, you will 
naturally watch unto prayer, and look to Christ for 
strength from moment to moment. 

3d. When your mind hath been drawn aside, do not 
fret, or let yourself go down the stream of nature, as 
if it was in vain to attempt to swim against it ; but 
confess your fault, and calmly resume your former en- 
deavour* but with more humility and watchfulness. 

4th. Steal from business now and then, though for 
two or three minutes only,, and in the corner where 
you can be least observed, pour out your soul in con- 
fession, or a short ejaculation at the feet of Jesus, for 
power to watch, and to believe that he can keep you 
watching. May you feelingly believe that he hath 
bought the power for you, and then of a truth you will 
find it done to you according to your faith. 

As to your correspondent's letter, I approve its con- 
tents^ but would have no one depend on my judgment. 



LIFE OF FLETCHER. 189 

especially on the points it treats of, as I have been 
thought, sometimes, to consider them, with a mind 
prepossessed in their behalf. This I know, that all can- 
not, ought not to receive some of the sayings that let- 
ter contains; and yet happier far, in my opinion, are 
those that can and do receive them. Let every one 
follow grace and Providence, and we shall be guided 
aright. I am, &c. I. F. 



Madeley, December , 1764. 

MISS HATT0 2T. 

Madam, 

I am sensible how much I want advice in a thousand 
particulars, and how incapable lam safely to direct any 
one: and I shall, nevertheless, venture to throw upon 
this sheet the following observations, as they come to 
my mind on reading your letter. 

You cannot expect, on the gospel plan, to attain to 
such a carriage as will please all you converse with. 
The Son of God, the original of all human perfection, 
was blamed sometimes for his silence, and sometimes 
for his speaking, &c. and shall the handmaid be above 
her Master? 

There is no sin in wearing such things as you have 
by you, if they are not out of character; I mean, if 
they are necessary for your station, and characterize 
your rank. 

There is no sin in allowing yourself a little more lati- 
tude of speech, provided you listen to Christ by in- 



190 LIFE OF FLETCHER. 

ward attention to his teaching, and the end of what 
you say may be to introduce what is useful and edify- 
ing ; for God judgeth of words according to the inten- 
tion of the speaker. I may speak idly even in the 
pulpit; and I may speak to edification in the market, if 
what I say is either necessary or proper to introduce, 
or drive the nail of a profitable truth. Some parables 
of our Lord would have been deemed idle talk had it 
not have been for the end he pursued, and, upon the 
whole, accomplished by them. No particular rule can 
be given here; a thousand circumstances of persons, 
tempers, places, times, states, &c. will necessarily vary 
a christian's plan. 

There is no sin in looking cheerful: No, it is our 
duty to be cheerful — Rejoice evermore ; and if it is our 
duty always to be filled with joy, it is our duty to ap- 
pear what we are in reality. I hope, however, your 
friends know how to distinguish between cheerfulness 
and levity. 

If you want to recommend religion to those you 
converse with, and, in many instances, to pluck up 
offence by the root, let your heart lie where Mary's 
body did. Keep close to Jesus, be attentive to his 
still, small voice, and he will fill you with humble love, 
and such love will teach you, without any rule, as by 
the instinct of your new nature, " to become all 
things to all men." 

You ask what the apostle meant by that expression: 
it is certain he did not mean to overset his own pre- 
cept, "Be not conformed to the world." I apprehend 
that, in every case, wherein we might promote the 
spiritual or temporal good of any one, by doing or 



LIFE OP FLETCHER. 191 

suffering things of an indifferent nature, or even pain- 
ful and disagreeable to us, we ought to be ready to be- 
come all things to all; provided the good we propose 
is superior to the inconveniences to which we submit. 
Here, also, we stand in need of humble love, and meek 
wisdom, that we may so weigh circumstances as to 
form a right judgment in all things. 

I am glad the Lord strips you: I wish self may never 
clothe you again. Beware of stiff singularity in things 
barely indifferent: it is self in disguise; and it is so 
much the more dangerous, as it comes recommended 
by a serious, self-denying, religious appearance. 

I hope the short comings of some about you will not 
prevent your eyeing the prize of a glorious conformity 
to our blessed Head. It is to be feared that not a few 
of those who talk of having attained it, have mistaken 
the way; they are still something, and I apprehend an 
important step towards that conformity, is to become 
nothing; or, rather, to be with St. Paul, to become 
in our own eyes the chief of sinners, and the least of 
saints. 

Mr. Harris seems to me one among ten thousand ; 
he has left a particular blessing behind him in this 
place. The God of peace give us all the blessings that 
the Messenger and the Mediator of the New Covenant 
brought with him, at this time, into the world! May 
we so receive him, that by a blessed exchange, as he 
is clad with our flesh, so we may put on him, and be 
covered with his righteousness and filled with his Spirit ! 
Salute the church in your house from your servant in 
the gospel. I. F. 



192 LIFE OF FLETCHER. 

Madeley, January 31s/, 1765. 

MISS HATTON. 

Madam, 

« You strive, pray, resist, but are little the better;" 
yet pray, strive, and resist on. It is good to be tried, 
and to get a blessing in the very fire: we shall then 
know how to value it properly. But let me be free 
with you, madam ; do you pray, resist, and strive 
against wanderings with any steadiness, and do you do 
it in cheerful hope to overcome through the blood of 
the Lamb? When you have been unhinged from 
Christ in mind or heart, do you with stronger indigna- 
tion against wanderings, a calmer expectation of the 
assistance of the Spirit, and a deeper agony of faith, 
seek to be avenged of your adversary? Do you imi- 
tate the importunate widow? If this be the case, you 
will not complain long ; for whatsoever we thus ask in 
the name of Christ, we shall surely receive. And 
should the Lord, for reasons best known to himself, try 
your faith and hope, yet that longer trial will be found 
to praise and honour in the end. Only faint not; and 
when you find yourself inclined to do so, in all haste fly 
to the cordial of the promises, and determine to take 
nothing else till your heart is revived and made strong 
again. 

The same power of God, through praying faith, is 
necessary to keep you from reasoning unprofitably. — 
Whenever this arises to any height, there is one thing 
wanting, a steadily exerted will, never thus to reason. 
We cannot be so easily betrayed, or slide away into 
this snare of the devil so easily as into the other. I 



LIFE OF FLETCHER. 193 

apprehend, that whosoever abides steadily purposed 
not to reason, shall not do it. The will starts aside first, 
the resolution of course followeth, and the tempter 
easily takes their place. Get willing, truly willing, 
under the cross, and keep there to keep your will, or 
you will beat the air. 

Last Sunday I preached two sermons upon Heb. ii. 
and 1. I see so much in that faith of the apostle, that 
I can hardly pray for any thing besides that " evidence 
of things not seen, that substance of things hoped for." 
To how many mistakes and fatal errors have we opened 
the door, by varying from the apostle, and pretending 
to be wiser than the Holy Ghost! The Lord fill you 
and yours with that faith. Farewell. I. F. 



Madeley, Jan. 13, 1766. 

MISS H A T T O X. 

Madam, 

I am almost ashamed of answering your letters after 
my long delays, but better late than never, as I hope 
your indulgence will put the best construction on what 
time does not allow me to make an apology for. 

I do not wonder if ***** &c. hath been a snare to 
entangle your thoughts ; but it is now over; and what, 
is that to thee? follow thou Christ. You may, how- 
ever, learn this lesson, that the minding Christ and 
our own souls, with Mary, while we leave the world 
to Martha, is no easy thing in a day of temptation ; 
and that no one knows what he is till he is tried, and 

R 



194 LIFE OF FLETCHER* 

tried in the tenderest points — love, liberty, esteem? 
and sharp bodily pain. Lord prepare us for such trials, 
and may we encounter them in the whole armour of 
God! 

This evening I have buried one of the warmest op- 
posers of my ministry, a stout, strong young man, 
aged twenty-four years. About three months ago he 
came to the church-yard with a corpse, but refused to 
come into the church. When the burial was over, I 
went to him, and mildly expostulated with him. His 
constant answer was, " that he had bound himself never 
to come to church while I was there; adding, that he 
would take the consequences/' &c. Seeing I got no- 
thing, I left him, saying with uncommon warmth, 
(though, as far as I can remember, without the least 
touch of resentment,) "X am clear of your blood; 
henceforth it is upon your own head ; if you will not 
come to church upon your own legs, prepare to come 
upon your neighbours' shoulders." He wasted from 
that time, and, to my great surprise, hath been buried 
on the spot where we were when the conversation 
passed between us. When I visited him in his sick- 
ness, he seemed tame as a wolf in a trap. may God 
have turned him into a sheep in his last hours! 

This last year is the worst I have had here — barren 
in convictions, fruitful in backslidings. May this prove 
for us, and for you, the acceptable year of the Lord. 
I beg your prayers on this behalf. 

I have filled my page, but not with Jesus' name: let 
your heart contain what my letter wants — Jesus and 
his precious blood — Jesus, and his free, glorious sal- 
vation. Live to him, breathe for him ; buy, sell, eat, 



LIFE OF FLETCHER. 195 

drink, read, write for him ; receive him as yours alto- 
gether, and give him your whole self, with all that is 
around you. Take us all, Lord, into thy gracious fa- 
vour, stamp us with thy glorious image, and conduct 
us to thy eternal kingdom! 

Present my christian respects to Mrs. Hatton, your 
sister, and all your friends, and accept the same from 
your unworthy brother, I. F. 



Madeley, Juty2Sth 9 1766. 

MISS HATTOX, 

My Dear Friend, 

I hear still a very indifferent account of your health. 
I stand in doubt as to your bodily life; but it is in the 
hand of Jesus, and Jesus is wise, Jesus is good, Jesus 
is Almighty: he will, therefore, dispose of you for the 
best. While you see the scales hovering, and it may 
be that of life slowly descending towards a quiet grave, 
calmly look at Jesus ; and when the feebleness of your 
spirits prevents you from crying out, in extatic love, 
" My Lord and my God!" let your devoted, resigned, 
patient heart still whisper, " Thy will be done!" 

Your last letter raised my hopes of your recovery. 
Mr. Perry, who saw you since, damps them again: 
but, whether we live, we live to the Lord, or whether 
we die, we die to the Lord. Not for the works of 
righteousness that we have done, but according to his 
mercy he saveth us: glory be to God for his unspeak- 
able gift! Jesus remembers you in his all-prevailing 



196 LIFE OF FLETCHER. 

intercession — and, I might add, I do in my prayers, if 
the weight of a dancing mote deserved to be mention- 
ed after that of an immense mountain. I am, with 
Christian respects to our kind, loving friends at Wem, 
your poor Madeley friend, I. F. 



Madeley, July 30/A, 1766. 

MISS HATTON. 

Mr Dear Friend, 

So you are likely to be at rest first? Well, the Lord's 
will be done! I should be glad to have you stay to 
help us. to the kingdom of God; but if God wants to 
take you there, and house you before a storm, I shall 
only cry, " One of the chariots of Israel, and the 
horsemen thereof," and try to make the best of my 
way after you. 

A calm receiving of the gospel tidings, upon a con- 
viction of your lost estate, with suitable tempers, is a 
sign that you are in a safe state ; but I want you alto- 
gether in a comfortable one. Your business, I appre- 
hend, is not to turn the dunghill of nature, but to suck 
the gospel milk. Dwell much, if not altogether, upon 
free justification, through the redemption that is in 
Christ Jesus. View the sufficiency, fulness, suitable- 
ness, freeness of his atonement and righteousness; and 
hide yourself without delay under both. Look at death 
only as a door to let you out of many infirmities and 
pains, into the arms of Jesus, your heavenly bride- 



LIFE OF FLETCHER. 197 

groom. Stir up faith, hope, and love ; that is trimming 
your lamp. Since last Monday, I find the burden of 
your soul upon mine in a very particular manner, and 
I hope that I shall not cease to pray for you, that you 
may go not only calmly, but joyfully, the way of all 
flesh. I have got some praying souls to share with me 
in that profitable work, and I hope you will meet our 
spirits at the throne of grace as we do yours. 

Let me have the comfort of thinking that you are 
with your physician, husband, and all; who will order 
all things for the best. Pray hard, believe harder, and 
love hardest. Let the cry of your soul be, " None but 
Jesus living, none but Jesus dying." Let Christ be 
your life, and then death, whether it comes sooner or 
later, will be your gain. 

Mr. Glazebrook waits for these lines, and I conclude 
by again entreating you to believe. " Only believe," 
said Jesus to the Ruler — and faith will work by love, 
and love by a desire to depart and to be with Christ. 
God the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, bless, uphold, 
and comfort you ! Farewell, and forget not to pray for 
your helpless friend, I. F. 



Madeley, September , 1766. 

MISS HATTOX. 

My Very Dear Friend, 

God wonderfully supports your tottering clay, that 
he may fill up what is lacking in your faith. Concur 

r 2 



198 LIFE OF FLETCHER. 

with the merciful design: arise in spirit, shake off the 
dust of earthly thoughts, put on your glorious appa- 
rel — put on, every moment, the Lord Jesus Christ. — 
Dare to believe — on Christ lay hold ; wrestle with 
Christ in mighty, or even in feeble prayer. He breaks 
not the bruised reed ; let the reed be grafted by simple 
faith, in the true vine, in the tree of life, and it will 
bring forth glorious fruit ; not only resignation, but 
power to welcome the King, disarmed of his terrors, 
and turned into a messenger of joy, and a guide, under 
Christ, to heavenly happiness. Let not one feeble 
breath pass without carrying an act of desire, or of 
faith towards Christ. Bestir yourself to lay hold on 
God, and when you find an absolute want of power, 
be you the more careful to lie at the feet of Him who 
hath all power given him on earth and heaven for you. 
Farewell, my dear friend that is, be found in Christ, 
for there only can we fare well, whether we live or die. 

I. F. 



Madeley, Jan. 30tk, 1767. 

MRS. HATTON. 

Dear Madam, 

I heard last night the news of Miss Hatton's death. 
As the stroke had long threatened you, and as she had, 
through mercy, long ago resigned herself to it, I hope 
it hath not found you without the shield of resignation, 
patience, and confidence in God. A sparrow, you 



LIFE OF FLETCHER. 199 

know, falls not to the ground without his permission, 
much less can a member of his Son fall into the grave 
without his direction. Surely his wisdom is infallible: 
he hath chosen the better part both for you and your 
daughter; he hath chosen to take her out of her misery, 
to translate her to the place where the weary are at 
rest, and to give you, by removing her, an opportunity 
of caring for your soul, -as you cared for her body. 

Now, what have you to do, Madam, but to put your 
hand upon your mouth and say, " It is the Lord; he 
gave and he hath taken away; blessed be his holy 
name!" If you sorrow, let it be in hope of meeting 
her soon, all glorious within and without, whom you 
lately saw such a spectacle of mortality. David ob- 
served, in the lesson for this morning, that the love of 
Jonathan had been better to him than the love of 
women. dwell much upon the consideration of the 
love of Jesus, and you will find that it far surpasses 
that of the most dutiful children: and comfort youself 
by the .believing thought, that Jesus lives, lives for 
you, and that your daughter lives in him ; where 
you will soon have the joy to meet her as an incarnate 
angel. 

I am, with prayers for you and Miss Fanny, to whom 
I wish much consolation in her elder, never-dying 
brother, Dear Madam, your unworthy, obliged servant 
in Christ, I. F. 



200 LIFE OF FLETCHER. 

Madeley, Feb. , 1767. 

JAMES I R E L A N D, E S a. 

My Very Dear Friend, 

The Lord will spare your daughter as long as she 
can get good, and do you and others good by the sight 
of her sufferings, when that cup is drunk up, she will 
be willing to go, and you to let her go. Remember, 
she is the Lord's much more than yours ; and that 
what we call dying is only breaking the shell of a trou- 
blesome body, that Christ may fully come at the kernel 
of the soul, which he has bought. 

Poor Miss Hatton died last Sunday fortnight, full of 
serenity, faith, and love. The four last hours of her 
life were better than all her sickness. When the pangs 
of death were upon her, the comforts of the Almighty 
bore her triumphantly through, and some of her last 
words were — " Grieve not at my happiness — this 
world is no more to me than a bit of burnt paper — 
Grace! Grace! A sinner saved! I wish I could tell 
you half of what I feel and see — I am going to keep 
an everlasting Sabbath — death, where is thy sting? 
grave, where is thy victory? Thanks be to God, 
who giveth me the victory, through my Lord Jesus 
Christ." It is very remarkable, that she had hardly 
any joy in her illness: but God made her ample amends 
in her extremity. He kept the strongest cordial for 
the time of need: he does all things well: blessed, for 
ever blessed, be his holy name! 

Worcestershire also lately lost a wise virgin of a 
truth, dear Miss Fragena, Mr. Biddulph's sister. The 



LIFE OF FLETCHER. 201 

morning before she expired, she said, " I have had a 
stronger conflict last night, than ever I had in all my 
life; it was sharp and terrible; but Jesus hath over- 
come, and he will also overcome for you and me: be 
of good courage, believe, hope, love, and obey." 

I wish you had often such meetings as that you men- 
tion: everyone should have as many thrusts at that 
crooked serpent, that holy Devil, Bigotry, as he can. 
If I can leave my parish, I belive it will be to accom- 
pany Lady Huntingdon to the Goshen of our land, — 
Yorkshire — to learn the love of Christ at the feet of my 
brethren and fathers there. I am obliged to you for 
the present you mention: I have taken again to the 
drink of my country water, which agrees well with 
rae, and I shall not want it for myself : if it is not sent, 
diminish or stop it according to this notice. Farewell 
in the Lord Jesus. I. F. 



Oakhall, September 23, 1766. 

TO THOSE WHO LOVE OR FEAR THE LORD JESUS CHRIST AT MADELEY : 
GRACE, PEACE, AND EOTE BE MULTIPLIED TO YOU, PROM OUR GOD 
AND SATIOUR JESUS CHRIST. 

Providence, my dear brethren, called me so sudden- 
ly from you, that I had not time to take my leave and 
recommend myself to your prayers: but I hope the 
good Spirit of our God, which is the Spirit of love and 
supplication, has brought me to your remembrance, as 
the poorest and weakest of Christ's ministers, and, 



202 LIFEOF FLETCHER. 

consequently, as him whose hands stand most in need 
of being strengthened and lifted up by your prayers. 
Pray on, then, for yourselves, for one another, and for 
him whose glory is to minister to you in holy things, 
and whose sorrow it is not to do it in a manner more 
suitable to the majesty of the gospel, and more profita- 
ble to your souls. 

My heart is with you: nevertheless, I bear patiently 
this bodily separation for three reasons. First, the 
variety of more faithful and able ministers whom you 
have, during my absence, is more likely to be service- 
able to you, than my presence among you ; and I would 
always prefer your profit to my satisfaction. Second- 
ly, I hope Providence will give me those opportunities 
of conversing and praying with a greater variety of 
experienced christians, which will tend to my own im- 
provement, and I trust, in the end, to yours. Thirdly, 
I flatter myself, that after some weeks' absence, my mi- 
nistry will be recommended by the advantage of novel- 
ty, which (the more the pity,) goes farther with some 
than the word itself. In the meantime I shall give 
you some advice, which, it may be, will prove both 
suitable and profitable to you. 

1st. Endeavour to improve daily under the ministry 
which Providence blesses you with. Be careful to at- 
tend it with diligence, faith and prayer. Would it 
not be a great shame, if, when ministers come thirty 
or forty miles to offer you peace and pardon, strength 
and comfort, in the name of God, any of you should 
slight the glorious message, or hear it as if it was 
nothing to you, and as if you heard it not ? See, then, 



LIFE OF FLETCHER. 203 

that you never come from a sermon, without being 
more deeply convinced of sin and righteousness. 

2d. Use more prayer before you go to church. Con- 
sider that your next appearance there may be in a cof- 
fin ; and entreat the Lord to give you now, so to hun- 
ger and thirst after righteousness, that you may be 
filled. Hungry people never go fasting from a feast. 
Call to mind the text I preached from the last Sunday 
but one before I left you, "Wherefore laying aside all 
guile," &c. (1 Pet. ii. 12.) 

3d. When you are under the word, beware of sit- 
ting as judges, and not as criminals. Many judge of 
the manner, matter, voice, and person of the preacher. 
You, perhaps, judge all the congregation, when you 
should judge yourselves, worthy of eternal death; and 
yet, worthy of eternal life, through the worthiness of 
Him, who stood and was condemned at Pilate's bar 
for you. The moment you have done crying to God, 
as guilty, or thanking Christ as reprieved criminals, 
you have reason to conclude, this advice is levelled at 
you. 

4th. When you have used a mean of grace, and do 
not find yourselves sensibly quickened, let it be a mat- 
ter of deep humiliation to you. For want of repent- 
ing of their unbelief and hardness of heart, some get 
into a habit of deadness and indolence ; so that they 
come to be as insensible, and as little ashamed of them- 
selves for it, as stones. 

5th. Beware of the inconsistent behaviour of those 
who complain they are full of wanderings in the even- 
ing under the word, when they have suffered their 
minds to wander from Christ all the day long. 0! get 



204 LIFE OF FLETCHER. 

acquainted with him, that you may walk in him, and 
with him. Whatsoever you do or say, especially in 
the things of God, do or say it, as if Christ was be- 
fore, behind, and on every side of you. Indeed he is 
so, whether you consider it or not; for if, when he vi- 
sibly appeared on earth, he called himself the Son of 
Man, who is in heaven, how much more, then, is he 
present on earth now, that he makes his immediate 
appearance in heaven? Make your consciences, then, 
to maintain a sense of his blessed presence all the day 
long, and all the day long you will have a continual 
feast; for can you conceive any thing more delightful 
than to be always at the fountain of love, beauty, and 
joy; — at the spring of power, wisdom, goodness, and 
truth? Can there be a purer and more melting happi- 
ness, than to be with the best of fathers, the kindest 
of brothers, the most generous of benefactors, and the 
tenderest of husbands? Now Jesus is all this, and 
much more to the believing soul. Oh! believe, my 
friends, in Jesus now, through a continual now ; and 
until you can thus believe, mourn over your unbeliev- 
ing hearts; drag them to him, as you can ; think of the 
efficacy of his blood, shed for the ungodly, and wait 
for the Spirit of faith from on high. 

6th. Some of you wonder why you cannot be- 
lieve ; w T hy you cannot see Jesus with the eye of your 
mind, and delight in him with all the affections of your 
heart. I apprehend the reason to be one of these, or, 
perhaps all of them. 

First, you are not poor, lost, undone, helpless sin- 
ners in yourselves. You indulge spiritual and refined 
self-righteousness, you are not yet dead to the law, and 



LIFE OF FLETCHER. 205 

quite slain by the commandment, Now the kingdom 
of heaven belongs to none but the poor in spirit. Je- 
sus came to save none but the lost. What wonder, 
then, if Jesus is nothing to you, and if you do not live 
in his kingdom of peace, righteousness, and joy in the 
Holy Ghost? 

Secondly. Perhaps you spend your time in curious 
reasonings, instead of casting yourselves, as forlorn 
sinners, at Christ's feet ; leaving it to him to bless 
you, when, and in the manner and degree he pleases. 
Know that he is the wise and sovereign God, and that 
it is your duty to lie before him as clay; as fools; as 
sinful nothings. 

Thirdly. Perhaps some of you wilfully keep idols 
of one kind or other; you indulge some sin against 
light and knowledge, and it is neither matter of humi- 
liation nor confession to you. The love of praise, of 
the world, of money, and sensual gratifications, when 
not lamented, are as implacable enemies to Christ as 
Judas and Herod. " How can you believe, seeing you 
seek the honour that cometh of men?" Hew then your 
Agags in pieces before the Lord; run from your Deli- 
lahs to Jesus; cut off the right hand, and pluck out the 
right eye that offends you. " Come out from among 
them, and be separate, saith the Lord, and I will re- 
ceive you." Nevertheless, when you strive, take care 
not to make yourselves a righteousness of your striv- 
ing. Remember that meritorious, justifying righte- 
ousness, is finished and brought in, and that your 
works can no more add to it, than your sins can dimi- 
nish from it. Shout, then, " The Lord our Righteous- 
ness;" and if you feel yourselves undone sinners, hum- 

s 



206 LIFE OF FLETCHER. 

bly, yet boldly say, " In the Lord I have righteous- 
ness and strength." 

When I was in London I endeavoured to make the 
most of my time: that is to say, to hear, receive and 
practise the word. Accordingly, I went to Mr. Whit- 
field's tabernacle, and heard him give his society a 
most excellent exhortation upon love. He began by 
observing, " that when the Apostle St. John was old- 
and past walking and preaching, he would not forsake 
the assembling himself with the brethren, as the man- 
ner of too many is, upon little or no pretence at all. 
On the contrary, he got himself carried to their meet- 
ing, and with his last thread of voice, preached to them 
his final sermon, consisting of this one sentence, My 
little children, love one another." I wish, I pray, I 
earnestly beseech you, to follow that evangelical, apos- 
tolical advice; and, till God make you all little chil- 
dren, little in your own eyes, and simple as little chil- 
dren, give me leave to say, my dear brethren, love one 
another, and, of course, judge not, provoke not, and 
be not shy one of another ; but bear ye one another's 
burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ. Yea, bear with 
one another's infirmities, and do not easily cast off any 
one; no, not for sin, except it is obstinately persisted 
in. 

My sheet is full, and so is my heart, of good wishes 
for you, and ardent longings after you all. When I 
return, let me have the comfort of finding you all be- 
lieving and loving. Farewell, my dear brethren. — 
The blessing of God be with you all! This is the ear- 
nest desire of your unworthy minister, I. F. 



LIFE OF FLETCHER. 207 

Madeley, July 30th, 1768. 

JAMES IRELAND, ESQ.. 

My Dear Friend, 

Uncertain as I am whether your daughter is yet 
alive, or whether the Lord hath called her from this 
vale of darkness and tears, I know not what to say to 
you on the subject, but this, that our heavenly Father 
appoints all things for the best. If her days of suffer- 
ing are prolonged, it is to honour her with a conformity 
to the crucified Jesus; if they are shortened, she will 
have drunk all her cup of affliction ; and, I flatter my- 
self, that she has found, at the bottom of it, not the 
bitterness and the gaul of her sins, but the honey and 
wine of our divine Saviour's righteousness, and the con- 
solations of his Spirit. 

I had lately some views of death, and it appeared to 
me in the most brilliant colours. What is it to die, 
but to open our eyes after the disagreeable dream of 
this life, after the black sleep in which we are buried 
on this earth? It is to break the prison of corruptible 
flesh and blood into which sin hath cast us ; to draw 
aside the curtain, to cast off the material veil, which 
prevents us from seeing the Supreme beauty and good- 
ness face to face. It is to quit our polluted and tatter- 
ed raiment, to be invested with robes of honour and 
glory; and to behold the Sun of Righteousness in 
brightness, without an interposing cloud. my dear 
friend, how lovely is death, when we look at it in 
Jesus Christ! To die is one of the greatest privileges 
of the christian. 

If Miss Ireland is still living, tell her a thousand 



208 LIFE OF FLETCHER. 

times, that Jesus is the resurrection and the life; that 
he hath vanquished and disarmed death ; that he hath 
brought life and immortality to light, and that all things 
are ours, whether life or death, eternity or time. — 
These are those great truths upon which she ought to 
risk, or rather, to repose her soul with full assurance. 
Every thing is a shadow and a lie, in comparison of 
the reality of the gospel. If your daughter be dead, 
believe in Jesus, and you shall find her again in him, 
who fills all in all, who encircles the material and spi- 
ritual world in his arms — in the immense bosom of his 
divinity. 

I have not time to write to Mrs. Ireland ; but I en- 
treat her to keep her promise, and to inform me what 
victories she has gained over the world, the flesh, and 
sin. Surely when a daughter is dead or dying, it is 
high time for a father and a mother to die to all things 
below, and aspire, in good earnest, to that eternal life 
which God has given us in Jesus Christ. Adieu, my 
dear friend. Yours, I. F. 



Madeley, March 27, 1774. 

JAMES IRELAND, ESa. 

My Dear Sir, 

I think I wrote my last two days before I received 
your bounty — a large hogshead of rice and two cheeses. 
Accept the thanks of our poor and mine on the oeca^ 



LIFE OF FLETCHER. 209 

sion. I distributed it on Shrove Tuesday, and preached 
to a numerous congregation, on " Seek ye first the 
kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all other 
things shall be added unto you." May you and I find 
the bread we scattered that day, though it should not 
be till after many days. We prayed for our benefac- 
tor, that God would give him an hundred fold in this 
life, and eternal life where life eternal w T ill be no bur- 
den. I saw then what I have not often seen on such 
occasions, gladness, without the appearance of envying 
or grudging. 

How kind is my lady to offer to interpose, and to 
wipe off the aspersions of my London accusers. I had 
before sent my reply, which was only a plain narrative 
of two facts, upon which, it appeared to me, the capital 
charges were founded, together with some gentle expos- 
tulations, which I hope have had the desired effect. — 
Give my duty to the dear elect lady, and thank her a 
thousand times for this new addition to all her former 
favours, till I have an opportunity of doing it in per- 
son. 

I get very slowly out of the mire of my controversy, 
and yet I hope to get over it, if God spares my life, in 
two or three pieces more. Since I wrote last, I have 
added to my Equal Check, a piece which I call "An 
Essay on Truth, or a Rational Vindication of the Doc- 
trine of Salvation by Faith," which I have taken the 
liberty to dedicate to Lady Huntingdon, to have an 
opportunity of clearing her ladyship from the charge 
of Antinomianism. I have taken this step in the sim- 
plicity of my heart, and as due from me, in my circum- 
stances, to the character of her ladyship. Mr. H — t — n 

s2 



#i"0 LIFE 01* FLETCfiHRe 

called some time after the letter was printed, and told 
me, " It will not be well taken." I hope better: but be 
it as it will, I shall have the satisfaction of having 
meant well. 

I have just spirit enough to enjoy my solitude, and 
to bless God that I am out of the hurry of the world — 
even the spiritual world. I tarry gladly in my Jerusa- 
lem 9 till the kingdom of God comes with power. Till 
then it matters not where I am: only as my chief call 
is here, here I gladly stay till God fits me for the pulpit 
or the grave. I still spend my mornings in scribbling. 
Though I grudge so much time in writing, yet a man 
must do something, and I may as well investigate 
truth as do any thing else, except solemn praying and 
visiting my flock. I shall be glad to have done with 
my present avocation, that I may give myself up more 
to those two things. 

O how life goes ! I walked, now I gallop into eternity. 
The bowl of life goes rapidly down the steep hill of 
time. Let us be wise: embrace we Jesus and the re- 
surrection: let us trim our lamps, and give ourselves 
afresh to him that bought us, till we can do it without 
reserve. Adieu. I. F\ 



Madeley, March 2lst, 1776. 

31 R. T A U G H A If. 

Dear Sir, 

* * * I thought I should soon have done with con- 
troversy, but now I give up the hope of having done 



LIFE OF FLETCHER. 211 

with it before I die. There are three sorts of people I 
must continually attack or defend myself against — 
Gallios, Pharisees, and Antinomians. I hope I shall 
die in this harness, fighting against some of them. I 
do not, however, forget that the Gallio, the Simon, 
and the Nicholas within, are far more dangerous to me 
than those without. In my own heart, that immense 
field, 1 must first fight the Lord's battles and my own. 
Help me here, join me in this field. All christians are 
here militia-men, if they are not professed soldiers. 
my friend, I need wisdom — meekness of wisdom! A 
heart full of it is better than all your cider vault full 
of the most generous liquors;* and it is in Christ for 
us, go and ask for you and me, and I shall ask for 
me and you: what a mercy is it that our Lord bears 
stock! May we not be ashamed nor afraid to come, 
and beg every moment for wine and milk, grace and 
wisdom. 

Beware, my friend, of the world: let not its cares, 
nor the deceitfulness of its riches, keep, or draw you 
from Jesus. Before you handle the birdlime, be sure 
to dip your heart and hand in the oil of grace. Time 
flies. Years of plenty and of scarcity, of peace and 
war, disappear before the eternity to which we are 
all hastening. May we see now the winged despatch 
of time, as we shall see it in a dying hour, and by 
coming to, and abiding in Christ, our fortress and city 
of refuge, may we be enabled to bid defiance to our 
last enemy. Christ has fully overcome him, and by 
the victory of the head, the living members cannot but 
be fully victorious. 

* Alluding to a present of some cider from Mr. Vaughan. 



212 LIFE OF F L ETCHE ft- 

Remember me kindly to Mrs. Vaughan. That the 
Lord would abundantly bless you both, in your souls, 
bodies, concerns, and children, is the sincere wish of, 
dear sir, your affectionate friend, I. F. 



Macon, in Burgundf, May 18, 1778, 



THE BET. DR. CONTEES. 



Hon. and Dear Sir, 

I left orders with a friend to send you a little book 
called " The Reconciliation," in which I endeavour to 
bring nearer the children of God, who are divided 
about their partial views of divine truths. I do not 
know whether that tract has in any degree answered 
its designs; but I believe truth can be reconciled with 
itself, and the candid children of God one with another. 
that some abler hand, and more loving heart, would 
undertake to mend my plan, if it be worth mending, or 
draw one more agreeable to the word of God ! My eyes 
are upon you, dear sir, and those who are like minded 
with you, for this work; disappoint me not of my 
hope. Stand forth and make way for reconciling love, 
by removing (so far as lies in you) what is in the way 
of brotherly union. sir, the work is worthy of you ! 
and if you saw with what boldness the false philoso- 
phers of the Continent, who are the apostles of the 
age, attack Christianity, and represent it as one of 
the worst religions in the world, and fit only to make 
the professors of it murder one another, or at least to 



LIFE OF FLETCHER. 213 

contend among themselves; and how they urge our dis- 
putes to make the gospel of Christ the jest of nations, 
and the abhorrence of all flesh, you would break 
through your natural timidity, and invite all our 
brethren in the ministry to do what the herds do on the 
Swiss mountains, when wolves attack them ; instead of 
goring one another, they unite, form a close battalion, 
and face the common enemy on all sides. What a 
shame would it be if cows and bulls showed more pru- 
dence and more regard for union, than christians and 
gospel ministers! 

dear sir, take courage! Be bold for the reconcil- 
ing truth. Be bold for peace. You can do all things, 
through Christ strengthening you, and as Doctor Con- 
yers, you can do many things, — a great many more 
than you think. What if you go, sir, in Christ's name, 
to all the gospel ministers of your acquaintance, ex- 
hort them as a father, entreat them as a brother, and 
bring them, or as many of them as you can, together; 
think you that your labour would be in vain in the 
Lord? Impossible, sir! despair not! Charity hopeth 
all things, and, as Kempis saith, " It trieth all things, 
and bringeth many things to pass which would appear 
impossible to him who despaireth, hateth, or careth not 
for the sheep.' , 

If you want a coach, or a friend to accompany you, 
when you go upon this errand of love, remember there 
is a Thornton in London, and an Ireland in Bristol, 
who will wish you God speed, and make your way 
plain before you ; and God will raise many more to 
concur in the peaceful work. Let me humbly entreat 
you to go to work and to persevere in it. I wish I 



214 LIFE OF FLETCHER. 

had strength to be at least your postilion when you go. 
I would drive, if not like Jehu, at least with some de- 
gree of cheerful swiftness while Christ smiled on the 
christian attempt. But I am confident you can do 
all in the absence, and without the concurrence of him 
who is, with brotherly love, and dutiful respect, Hon. 
and dear sir, your obedient servant in the gospel, 

I. F. 



Nyon, July 1 5th, 1778. 

JAMES IRELAND, ESQ.. 

My Dear Friend, 

I have ventured to preach once, and to expound 
once in the church. Our ministers are very kind and 
preach to the purpose: a young one, of this town, 
gave us lately a very excellent gospel sermon. Grown 
up people stand fast in their stupidity, or in their self- 
righteousness. The day I preached, I met with some 
children in my wood, walking or gathering strawber- 
ries. 

I spoke to them about our Father — our common 
Father. We felt a touch of brotherly affection. They 
said they would sing to their Father, as well as the 
birds; and followed me, attempting to make such me- 
lody as you know is commonly made in these parts. I 
out-rode them, but some of them had the patience to fol- 
low me home, and said they would speak with me; but 
the people of the house stopt them, saying, I would 



LIFE OF FLETCHER. 215 

not be troubled with children. They cried, and said, 
" They were sure I would not say so, for I was their 
good brother. " The next day, when I heard it, I in- 
quired after them, and invited them to come to me; 
which they have done every day since. I make them 
little hymns which they sing. Some of them are un- 
der sweet drawings. Yesterday I wept for joy, on 
hearing one speak of conviction of sin, and joy un- 
speakable in Christ, which had followed, as would do 
an experienced believer in Bristol. Last Sunday I 
met them in the wood: there were one hundred of them, 
and as many adults. Our first Pastor has since desired 
me to desist from preaching in the wood, (for I had ex- 
horted) for fear of giving umbrage; and I have com- 
plied from a concurrence of circumstances which are 
not worth mentioning: I therefore meet them ia my 
father's yard. 

In one of my letters I promised you some anecdotes 
concerning the death of our two great philosophers, 
Voltaire and Rousseau. Mr. Tronchin, the physician 
of the Duke of Orleans, being sent for to attend Vol- 
taire in his illness at Paris, Voltaire said to him, "Sir, 
I desire you would save my life. I will give you the 
half of my fortune, if you lengthen out my days only 
for six months. If not, I shall go to the devil, and shall 
carry you away along with me." 

Mr. Rousseau died more decently, as full of himself as 
Voltaire was of the wicked one. He paid that atten- 
tion to nature and the natural sun, which the Chris- 
tian pays to grace and the Sun of Righteousness. These 
are some of his last words to his wife, which I copy 
from a printed letter circulating in these parts. " Open 



216 LIFE OF FLETCHER. 

the window, that I may see the green fields once more. 
How beautiful is nature! How wonderful is the sun! 
See that glorious light it sends forth! It is God who 
calls me. How pleasing is death to a man who is not 
conscious of any sin! God! my soul is now as pure 
as when it first came out of thy hands: crown it with 
thy heavenly bliss !" God deliver us from self and 
Satan, the internal and external fiend? The Lord for- 
bid we should fall into the snare of the Sadducees, with 
the former of those two famous men, or into that of 
the Pharisees with the latter. Farewell in Jesus. 

I. F. 



Nyon, September 25, 1778. 

JAMES IRELAND, ESQ,. 

My Dear Friend, 

I am just returned from an excursion I made with 
my brother, through the fine vale, in the midst of the 
high hills which divides France from this country. In 
that vale we found three lakes, one on French ground, 
and two on Swiss ; the largest is six miles long and two 
wide. It is the part of the country where industry is 
most apparent, and where population thrives best. 
The inhabitants are chiefly woodmen, coopers, watch- 
makers and jewellers. They told me they had the 
best singing, and the best preacher in the country. I 
asked if any sinners were converted under his minis- 
try? They stared, and asked, " What I meant by con- 



LIFE OF FLETCHER. 217 

version ?" When I had explained myself, they said, 
" We did not live in the time of miracles." 

I was better satisfied in passing through a part of 
the vale which belongs to the king of France. I saw 
a prodigious concourse of people, and supposed they 
kept a fair, but was agreeably surprised to find it was 
three missionaries, who went about as itinerant preach- 
ers, to help the regular clergy. They had been there 
already some days, and were three brothers, who 
preached morning and evening. The evening service 
opened by what they called a conference. One of the 
missionaries took the pulpit, and the parish priest pro- 
posed questions to him which he answered at full 
length, and in a very edifying manner. The subject 
was the unlawfulness and the mischief of those me- 
thods by which persons of different sexes lay snares 
for each other, and corrupt each other's morals. The 
subject was treated with delicacy, propriety and truth. 
The method was admirably well calculated to draw 
and fix the attention of a mixed multitude. This con- 
ference being ended, another missionary took the pul- 
pit. His text was our Lord's description of the day 
of judgment. Before the sermon, all those, who, for 
the press, could kneel, did, and sung a French hymn 
to beg a blessing upon the word ; and indeed it was 
bl-essed. An awful attention was visible upon most, 
and for a good part of the discourse, the voice of the 
preacher was almost lost in the cries and bitter wait- 
ings of the audience. When the outcry began, the 
preacher was describing the departure of the wicked 
into eternal fire. They urged that God was merciful, 
and that Jesus Christ had shed his blood for them. 

T 



218 LIFEOP FLETCHER. 

" But that mercy you have slighted, (replied the Judge;) 
and now is the time of justice; that blood you have 
trodden under foot, and now it cries for vengeance. 
Know your day — slight the Father's mercy and the 
Son's blood no longer." I have seen but once or twice 
congregations as much affected in England. 

One of our ministers being ill, I ventured a second 
time into the pulpit last Sunday; and the Sunday be- 
fore I preached six miles off to two thousand people in 
a jail yard, where they were come to see a poor mur- 
derer two days before his execution. I was a little 
abused by the bailiff on the occasion, and refused the 
liberty of attending the poor man to the scaffold, where 
he was to be broken on the wheel. I hope he died 
penitent. The day before he suffered, he said he had 
broke his irons, and that as he deserved to die, he de- 
sired new ones to be put on, lest he should be tempted 
to make his escape a second time. 

You ask what I designed to do? I propose, if it be 
the Lord's will, to spend a winter here, to bear my 
testimony against the trade of my countrymen, which 
Voltaire describes thus — 

Barbares dont la guerre est Punique metier, 
Et qui vendent leur sang a qui veut le paier. 

In the spring I shall, if nothing prevents, return to 
England with you, or with Mr. Perronet, if his affairs 
are settled, or alone if other ways fail. In the mean- 
while, I rejoice with you in Jesus, and in the glorious 
hope of that complete salvation his faithfulness has 
promised, and his power can never be at a loss to be- 
stow. We must be saved by faith and hope till we are 



LIFE OF FLETCHER. 219 

saved by perfect love, and made partakers of heavenly- 
glory. 

I am truly a stranger here. Well, then, as strangers 
let us go where we shall meet the assembly of the right- 
eous gathered in Jesus. Farewell in him, you and 
yours. I. F. 



Nyon, December 15, 1779. 



TO A SOBIEMAJf. 



My Lord, 

If the American Colonies and the West India Islands 
are rent from the crown there will not grow one ear of 
corn the less in Great Britain. We shall still have the 
necessaries of life, and, what is more, the gospel, and 
liberty to hear it. If the great springs of trade and 
wealth are cut off, good men will bear that loss with- 
out much sorrow; for the springs of wealth are always 
springs of luxury, which, sooner or later, destroy the 
empires corrupted by wealth. Moral good may come 
out of our losses: I wish you may see it in England. 
People on the continent imagine they see it already in 
the English on their travels, who are said to behave 
with more wisdom, and less haughtiness, than they 
were used to do. 

Last year saw the death of three great men of these 
parts — Rousseau, Voltaire, and Baron Haller, a senator 
of Berne. The last, who is not much known, I think, 
in England, was a great philosopher, a profound politi- 



220 LIFE OF FLETCHER. 

cian, and an agreeable poet; but he was particularly 
famous for his skill in botany, anatomy, and physic. 
He has enriched the republic of letters by such a num- 
ber of publications in Latin and German, that the cata- 
logue of them is alone a pamphlet. 

This truly great man has given another proof of the 
truth of Lord Bacon's assertion, that "although smat- 
terers in philosophy are often impious, true philoso- 
phers are always religious." I have met with an old, 
pious, apostolic clergyman who was intimate svith the 
Baron, and used to accompany him over the Alps, in 
his rambles after the wonders of nature. "With 
what pleasure," said the minister, " did we admire and 
adore the wisdom of the God of nature, and sanctify 
our researches by the sweet praises of the God of 
grace!" 

When the emperor passed this way, he stabbed Vol- 
taire to the heart by not paying him a visit; but he 
waited on Haller, was two hours with him, and heard 
from him such pious talk, as he never heard from half 
the philosophers of the age. The Baron was then ill 
of the disorder which afterwards carried him off. 

Upon his death-bed he went through sore conflicts 
about his interest in Christ ; and sent to the old minis- 
ter, requesting his most fervent prayers, and wishing 
him to find the way through the dark valley smoother 
than he found it himself. However, in his last mo- 
ments, he expressed a renewed confidence in God's 
mercy, through Christ, and died in peace. The old 
clergyman added, that he thought the Baron went 
through this conflict to humble him thoroughly, and,, 
perhaps, to chastise him for having sometimes given 



LIFE OF FLETCHER. 221 

way to a degree of self-complacence, at the thought of 
his amazing parts, and of the respect they procured 
him from the learned world. He was obliged to be- 
come last in his own eyes, that he might become first 
and truly great in the sight of the Lord. I am, my 
lord, &c. I. F. 



Nyon, March 7, 1780. 

MH. WILLIAM WASE, 

My Dear Brother, 

I am sorry the building* has come to so much more 
than I intended ; but, as the mischief is done, it is a 
matter to exercise patience, resignation, and self-denial; 
and it will be a caution in future. I am going to sell 
part of my little estate here to discharge the debt. I 
had laid by £50 to print a small work which I wanted 
to distribute here; but, as I must be just before 1 pre- 
sume to offer that mite to the God of truth, I lay by 
the design, and shall send that sum to Mr. York. Mo- 
ney is so scarce here, at this time, that I shall sell at a 
very great loss; but necessity and justice are two great 
laws which must be obeyed. As I design on my return 
to England, to pinch until I have got rid of this debt, 
I may go and live in one of the cottages belonging to 
the vicar, if he could let the vicarage for a few pounds; 
and in that case, I dare say, Mr. Greaves would be so 
good as to take the other little house. 

* A building which Mr. Fletcher had undertaken at his own expense, as a 
school for the gratuitous instruction of children, &c. — Ed. 

T 2 



222 LIFE OF FLETCHER* 

My dear friend, let us die to sin; hold fast Jesus, the 
way, the truth, and the life; walk by faith in him, and 
not by the sight and passions of the old Adam. I hope 
the sun of affliction, which burns poor England and 
us, will ripen us all for glory. Give my best love to 
all our friends in Christ, and tell them, that the hope 
of seeing them does me good, and that I trust they 
will not turn it into bitterness; which would be the 
case if I should find them out of the narrow way, and 
out of the kingdom of righteousness, peace and joy in 
the Lord. Salute dear John York; hold up his hands 
for me, and bid him stand fast in the Lord; leaning 
upon the cross of Him who bruised the serpent's head, 
and overcame death, hell and the grave, by pulling 
out sin, the sting of death. Farewell in Jesus Christ. 

I. F. 



Nyon, Sept 15//*, 1760. 



THE REV. MR. CREATES. 



My Dear Fellow-Labourer^ 

I had fixed the time of my departure for this month; 
but now two hindrances stand in my way. When I 
came to collect the parts of my manuscript, I found 
the most considerable parts wanting ; and after many 
searches I was obliged to write it over again. This ac- 
cident obliged me to put off my journey; and now the 

* The clergyman who officiated for Mr. Fletcher at Madeley during his 
absence. 



LIFE OF FLETCHER. 223 

change of weather has brought back some symptoms of 
my disorder. I speak, or rather, whisper, with diffi- 
culty; but I hope the quantity of grapes I begin to eat 
will have as good an effect upon me as in the last two 
autumns. Have patience then a little while. If things 
are not as you could wish, you can do but as I have 
done for many years — learn patience by the things 
which you suffer. Crossing our will, getting the bet- 
ter of our own inclinations, and growing in experience, 
are no mean advantages; and they may all be yours. 
Mr. Ireland writes me word, that if I return to Eng- 
land now, the winter will undo all I have been doing 
for my health for many years. However, I have not 
quite laid by the design of spending the winter with 
you; but dont expect me till you see me. I am, never- 
theless, firmly purposed, that if I do not set out this 
autumn, I shall do so next spring as early as I can. 

Till I had this relapse, I was able, thank God, to ex- 
hort in a private room three times a week: but the 
Lord Lieutenant will not allow me to get into a pulpit, 
though they permit the school-masters, who are lay- 
men, to put on a band and read the church prayers: so 
high runs the prejudice. The clergy, however, tell 
me, that if I will renounce my ordination, and get 
Presbyterian orders among them, they will allow me 
to preach: and, on these terms, one of the ministers 
of this town offers me his curacy. A young clergy- 
man of Geneva, tutor to my nephew, appears to me a 
truly converted man ; and he is so pleased when I tell 
him there are converted souls in England, that he will 
go over with me to learn English, and converse with 
the British christians. He wrote last summer with 



224 LIFE OF FLETCHER. 

such force to some of the clergy, who were stirring up 
the fire of persecution, that he made them ashamed, 
and we have since had peace from that quarter. 

There is little genuine piety in these parts: neverthe- 
less, there is yet some of the form of it: so far as to go 
to the Lord's table regularly four times a-year. There 
meet the adulterers, the drunkards, the swearers, the 
infidels, and even the materialists. They have no idea 
of the double damnation that awaits hypocrites. They 
look upon partaking that sacrament as a ceremony en- 
joined by the magistrate. At Zurich, the first town 
in this country, they have lately beheaded a clergy- 
man, who wanted to betray his country to the emperor, 
to whom it chiefly belonged. It is the town of the 
great reformer Zuinglius; yet there they poisoned the 
sacramental wine a few years ago. Tell it not in Gath! 
I mention this to show you there is occasion and great 
need to bear a testimony against the faults of the clergy- 
men here ; and if I cannot do it from the pulpit, I must 
try to do it from the press. Their canons, which 
were composed by two hundred and thirty pastors, at 
the time of the reformation, are so spiritual and apos- 
tolic, that I design to translate them into English, if I 
am spared. 

Farewell, my dear brother. Take care, good, con- 
stant care, of the flock committed to your charge; es- 
pecially the sick and the young. Salute all our dear 
parishioners. Let me still have a part in your prayers, 
public and private; and rejoice in the Lord, as, through 
grace, I am enabled to do in all my little tribulations. 
I am your affectionate friend and fellow-labourer, 

I. F. 



LIFE OF FLETCHER. 225 

Madeley, September 3d, 1781. 

THE RIGHT HON. LADY MART FITZGERALD. 

My much Honoured Lady, 

Two days ago I came here after an absence of above 
a month; and yesterday I received the honour of your 
letter without date, which has been, I am told, waiting 
here some time. What a pity I did not rejoice sooner 
in the good news you send me, that you desire to be 
entirely devoted to God. Indeed complaints follow, 
but heaven is in that holy desire. If you cultivate it, it 
will produce all that conformity to a holy God, which 
love can bring to a human soul, called to partake of 
the divine nature. As for your complaints, they are 
the natural expressions of that repentance which pre- 
cedes, in our hearts, the coming of the ^comforter, who 
is to abide with us for ever. I am ready to rejoice or 
mourn with my honoured friend, and I have abundant 
cause to do both, with respect to myself, my ministra- 
tions, the church, and my people. 

And will you, indeed, find it in your heart to honour 
my house with your presence, and perfume also with 
your prayers the plain apartments occupied by your 
friend Johnson? I wonder at nothing on earth when 
I consider the condescension with which Emmanuel 
came down from heaven, and filled a stable with his 
glory. Your time, my condescending friend, will suit 
me best. You will be queen in my hermitage, the 
Lord will rule in our hearts, and you will command 
under him within our walls. You smile, perhaps, at 
the vastness of your new empire; but if you can be 
content and happy in God in my homely solitude, you 



226 LIFE OF FLETCHER. 

will make greater advances towards bliss than if you 
obtained the principality of Wales. But if you can- 
not be happy with Jesus, prayer, praise, godly con- 
versation and retirement, expect a disappointment. — 
However, my honoured friend, if you come, come as 
the serious Catholics go on a pilgrimage, as French 
noblemen go to the Carthusian convent at La Trappe, 
as the French king's aunts went to the Carmelites: — 
come and do evangelical penance. Our good friend, 
Johnson, will tell you of an upper room, where we 
crucify our old man, and have had many a visit from 
the new. If you do not bring her with you, bring her 
faith, which brought him down, and then you shall not 
pine for the company of earthly princes. The prince 
of peace and life himself will keep his court in our 
cottage, and your heart shall be one of his favourite 
thrones. 

I hope, my lady, you will bring us good news of our 
friends in St. James' Place. My heart visits them 
often, and if bodies could move as quick as thought, 
they would be importuned frequently with my compa- 
ny. If you write to them before I do, convey my 
christian and grateful love in your letter, and accept it 
yourself from, my honoured and dear lady, your duti- 
ful servant in Christ, I. F. 



. 



Madeley, Sept. 29th, 1781. 

THE BIGHT HO^. LADT MARY FITZGERALD. 

My Dear and Honoured Friend, 

You have been in the fire of affliction, where faith 
is tried, where patient hope is exercised, and where 



LIFE OF FLETCHER. 227 

perfect love, which casts out fear, and endureth all 
things, is proved worthy of him who made bare his 
breast, and said to his Father, " Lo! I come to do thy 
will, God!" I come to be obedient unto death, even 
the painful, shameful death of the cross. 

Continue to offer your body as a living, or, if it 
please God, as a lingering, dying sacrifice to him who 
has decreed, that if we will reign with Christ, we 
must suffer with him. This is our reasonable service; 
for it would be absurd that our Lord should have been 
perfected by sufferings, thorns, and the cross, and that 
we should have nothing but enjoyment, roses, and a 
crown. How faithful, how merciful is our God! He 
brings you once more from the verge of eternity: well, 
my dear friend, I welcome you back into life, and into 
the enjoyment of farther opportunities of receiving 
and doing good — of growing in grace, and perfecting 
holiness in the fear of the Lord. 

Chastened, spared like you, and more and more con- 
vinced that I am helplessness itself, and that there is 
help laid on our Surety and Saviour for us, I invite 
you to say with me — "When I am weak, Christ, my 
life, is strong still: for me to live shall be Christ, and 
to die gain." Dear madam, to know the bare cross is 
uncomfortable; but to know and gather the fruit of 
that tree, is life from the dead, it is more abundant life 
after fainting. Let us then know, i. e. consider, and 
embrace Jesus Christ, crucified to make an end of sin; 
his shedding tears, and his most precious blood, to 
cleanse us from all sin ; to trace again the divine image, 
goodness, love, and happiness on our souls, and to seal 
our firm title to glory. 



228 LIFE OF FLETCHER. 

" Not a text," say you, "came to me, only I knew 
none perished at his feet:" then you remember Christ, 
the sum and substance of all the scriptures: then you 
believed on him, in whom all the sweetest texts, and 
all the promises are yea, and amen. believe more 
steadily, more confidently. Dare even to obey the 
apostolic precept, "Reckon youself dead indeed unto 
sin, but alive to God by Jesus Christ our Lord." Em- 
brace with more earnestness the righteousness of faith, 
and you will have more peace and joy in the Holy 
Ghost. Rejoice in Christ, your peace; yea, rejoice in 
God, your Saviour; and if there is a needs be for your 
being in heaviness for a season, rejoice in tribulation: 
sorrowful, but always rejoicing. "When I am desti- 
tute of all comfort, this shall yield me comfort," says 
Kempis, "That thy will is done." If Abraham be- 
lieved in hope against hope, that is, against human na- 
tural hope; can you not, through grace, as a daughter 
of Abraham, rejoice in heavenly hope against all natu- 
ral feelings, and even against all temptations? Count 
it all joy, says St. James, when you fall into divers 
temptations and trials. Don't be afraid of the storm: 
Christ is in the ship, and he does not sleep, as unbelief 
is apt to fancy. 

I thank you, my dear lad} 7 , for your friendly wish of 
leaving your clay here. I return it, by wishing you 
may leave all the body of sin, now, in that mysterious 
grotto of mount Calvary, where myriads of sinners 
have buried their doubts, their fears, and their old man. 
Prop up your clay a little longer, for I want to sing 
with you, "Salvation to God and the Lamb." I want 
you to help me, with the understanding and the voice, 



LIFE OF FLETCHER. 229 

to witness, that Jesus saves to the uttermost, all who 
come to God through him; that he can not only make 
an end of sin, but bring in an everlasting, triumphant 
righteousness. 

I am not without hope of seeing you in London be- 
fore you see your future hermitage. All my brotherly 
love goes to town, and salutes you and your good 

nurses, Mrs. C , Mrs.— — , Mrs. , Mrs. , 

Mrs. L ; to whose continued care, as well as to 

that of our dear Redeemer, I earnestly recommend you. 
I am, my dear lady, your obedient, affectionate ser- 
vant, I. F. 



Cross Hall, Yorkshire, Dec. 26, 1781 



THE HOK, MBS, C- 



My Very Dear Friend, 

Your favour of the 4th instant did not reach me 
until a considerable time after date, through my being 
still absent from Madeley; a clergyman of this neigh- 
bourhood having made an exchange with me to facili- 
tate my settling some affairs of a temporal nature in 
this country. The kind part you take in my happiness 
demands my warmest thanks; and I beg you will ac- 
cept them, multiplied by those which my dear partner 
presents to you. Yes, my dear friend, I am married 
in my old age, and have a new opportunity of consider- 
ing a great mystery, in the most perfect type of our 



£30 LtffE OF FLETCSEK. 

Lord's mystical union with his church. I have now a 
new call to pray for a fulness of Christ's holy, gentle, 
meek, loving Spirit, that I may love my wife, as he 
loved his spouse, the Church. But the emblem is 
greatly deficient: the Lamb is worthy of his spouse, 
and more than worthy, whereas I must acknowledge 
myself unworthy of the yoke-fellow whom heaven 
has reserved for me. She is a person after my own 
heart; and I make no doubt we shall increase the num- 
ber of the happy marriages in the church militant. In- 
deed, they are not so many, but it may be worth a 
christian's while to add one more to the number. God 
declared it was not good, that man, a social being, 
should live alone, and therefore he gave him a help 
meet for him: for the same reason our Lord sent forth 
his disciples two and two. Had I searched the three 
kingdoms, I could not have found one brother willing 
to share gratis my weal, wo, and labours, and com- 
plaisant enough to unite his fortunes to mine; but God 
has found me a partner, a sister, a wife, to use St. 
Paul's language, who is not afraid to face with me 
the colliers and bargemen of my parish, until death 
part us. 

Buried together in our country village, we shall help 
one another to trim our lamps, and wait, as I trust you 
do, continually, for the coming of the heavenly bride- 
groom. Well, for us the heavenly child is born, to us 
a double son is given, and with him the double king- 
dom of grace and glory. my dear friend, let us 
press into, and meet in, both of these kingdoms. Our 
Surety and Saviour is the way and the door into them: 
and blessed be free grace, the way is free as the king's 



LIFE OP FLETCHER. 231 

highway, and the door open like the arms of Jesus cru- 
cified. 

January 1st, 1782. I live, blessed be God, to de- 
vote myself again to his blessed service in this world, 
or in the next, and to wish my dear friends all the 
blessings of a year of jubilee. Whatever this year 
brings forth, may it bring us to the fullest measures of 
salvation attainable on earth, and the most complete 
preparation for heaven. I have a solemn call to gird 
my loins and keep my lamp burning. Strangely re- 
stored to health and strength, considering my years, 
by the good nursing of my dear partner, I ventured to 
preach of late as often as I did formerly, and after hav- 
ing read prayers and preached twice on Christmas day, 
&c. I did, last Sunday, what I had never done — I con- 
tinued doing duty from ten till past four in the after- 
noon, owing to christenings, churchings, and the sacra- 
ment, which I administered to a church full of people; 
so that I was obliged to go from the communion table 
to begin the evening service, and then to visit some 
sick. This has brought back upon me one of my old 
dangerous symptoms, so that I had flattered myself in 
vain, to do the whole duty of my own parish. My 
dear wife is nursing me with the tenderest care, gives 
me up to God with the greatest resignation, and helps 
me to rejoice, that life and death, health and sickness, 
work all for our good, and are all ours, as blessed in- 
struments to forward us in our journey to heaven. We 
intend to set out for Madeley to-morrow. The pros- 
pect of a winter's journey is not sweet; but the pros- 
pect of meeting you and your dear sister, and lady 
Mary, and Mrs. L , and Mrs. G , and all our 






232 LIFE OF FLETCHER. 

other companions in tribulation, in heaven, is delight- 
ful. The Lord prepare and fit us for that glorious 
meeting! As soon as I reach Madeley I shall write to 
lady Mary. Give my best respects to her, to our dear 
sister, and to the ladies I have just named, and believe 
me to be, my dear friend and fellow-traveller to Zion, 
your most obliged and affectionate servant, I. F. 

P. S. If lady Huntingdon is in London, I would 
beg you present my duty to her, with my best wishes. 



Madeley, Jan. 1782. 

THE EIGHT HON. LADY MART PITZGERALD. 

I thank you, my lady, for your kind congratulations 
on my marriage. The Lord has indeed blessed me 
with a partner after my own heart — dead to the world, 
and wanting, as well as myself, to be filled with all the 
life of God. She joins me in dutiful thanks to your 
ladyship, for your obliging remembrance of her in 
your kind letter, and will help me to welcome you to 
the little hermitage we spoke of last year in London, 
if your ladyship's health or taste should call you to re- 
tire, for a while, from the hurry of the town. 

What a difference between the court of the King of 
Kings, and that of King George! How peaceable the 
former, how full of hurry the latter! The Prince him- 
self welcomes us, and manifests himself to us, as Prince 
of peace, as Emmanuel, God with us. He will even 



I 



LIFE OP FLETCHER. 233 

bring his kingdom, and keep his court in our hearts. 
If we open them, by the attention and recollection of 
faith, he will even sup with us, and make us taste the 
sweetness of that bread which came down from hea- 
ven, and the virtue of that blood which cleanses from 
all sin. That this may be our constant experience, and 
that of our dear companions in tribulation in St. James' 
place, is the sincere and frequent wish of, my lady, 
your most obliged and obedient servant, I, F. 



Madeley, Dec. 19, 1782. 

THE KEY. MR. CHARLES WESLEY. 

Rev. and Dear Sir, 

I thank you for your hint about exemplifying the 
love of Christ and his church. I hope we do. I was 
afraid, at first, to say much of the matter: for new mar- 
ried people do not at first know each other: but hav- 
ing now lived fourteen months in my new state, I 
can tell you, Providence has reserved a prize for me, 
and that my wife is far better to me, than the church 
to Christ; so that if the parallel fails, it will be on my 
side. 

Be so good as to peruse the enclosed sheets. Mr. 
De Luc, to whom they are addressed, is reader to the 
queen, and the author of some volumes of letters to 
her: he is a true philosopher. I flatter myself he will 

u2 



234 LIFE OF FLETCHER. 

present my letter to the queen. Do you find any thing 
improper in the addition I have made to my Poem? I 
wish I were near you for your criticisms: you would 
direct me both as a poet and a Frenchman. 

I have yet strength enough to do my parish duty 
without the help of a curate. that the Lord would 
help me to do it acceptably and profitably! The col- 
liers began to rise in this neighbourhood: happily the 
cockatrice's egg was crushed before the serpent came 
out. However, I got many a hearty curse from the 
colliers, for the plain words I spoke on that occasion. 
I want to see days of power both within and without; 
but in the meantime I would follow closely my light 
in the narrow path. My wife joins me in respectful 
love to Mrs. Wesley and yourself, and requesting an 
interest in your prayers for us, I remain, my dear sir, 
your affectionate, obliged brother, servant and son, in 
the gospel, 1. F. 



Dublin, Aug. 23, 1783. 

THB BIGHT HO IT. IADI MABI riTZGERAlD. 

Honoured and Dear Madam, ^j 

I see the truth of those words of our Lord, " In me 
ye shall have peace, comfort, strength and joy ; be of 
good cheer." We came here to see the members of 
our Lord, and we find you removed, and removing far- 
ther still than you now are. What does this Providence 



LIFE OF FLETCHER. 235 

teach us? I learn that I must rejoice in the Lord above 
all his members, and find them all in him who fills all 
in all ; who is the life of all our friends, the joy of all 
our brethren. If our Lord is your life, your strength, 
and your all, you will remove in vain to the north or 
south, you cannot go from your spiritual friends; they 
will meet you in the common centre of all life and 
righteousness; there they will bless you, rejoice in 
your joy, and sympathize in your sorrow. 

If providence calls you to England by Scotland, by 
which route your ladyship apprehends so much diffi- 
culty, you know we must, at least, go to heaven by a 
way equally painful — the narrow way, the way mark- 
ed with blood, and with the tears and cross of the Son 
of God ; and if we follow him weeping, we shall return 
with everlasting joy on our heads. Even now the 
foretaste of those joys is given to us through hope, 
for by hope we are saved. Let our faith and hope be 
in God ; rooted and grounded in him who gives vital 
heat to our hearts, and who fans there the spark of 
grace, which his mercy has kindled; and may that 
spark, by the inspiration of the Holy Ghost, become a 
fire of holy love, heavenly zeal, and heavenly glory. 
Such power belongeth to the Almighty. He that spared 
not his own son, and has promised us his Holy Spirit, 
which is the mighty stream of his grace, and the mighty 
flame of his love, will not deny us that power, if we 
wait for it in his appointed ways, and ask it in the all 
prevailing name of Emmanuel, God with us. 

My dear partner, who, like myself, is deeply sensi- 
ble of your ladyship's kindness in remembering us, 
joins me in thanks for your obliging note, and in cor- 



236 



LIFE OP FLETCHER. 



dial wishes, that all the desires of your believing soul 
may be granted you, both for time, death, and eternity. 
We subscribe ourselves, with grateful sincerity, ho- 
noured madam, your devoted servants in our bleeding 
Lord, I.&M. F. 



Madeley, November 1783. 



TO WILLIAM SMYTH, ESQ.. 

Dear Sir, 

The many and great favours you have loaded us 
with, during our long stay under your hospitable roof, 
prompted us to make the earliest acknowledgment of 
our obligations, and to beg you would receive our 
warmest thanks for such unexpected and undeserved 
tokens of brotherly love. But the desire of filling 
our only frank has hindered their being more early 
traced upon paper; though they have been, are now, 
and, we trust, shall ever be, deeply engraven on our 
hearts. You have united for us the Irish hospitality, 
the English cordiality, and the French politeness. 
And now, sir, what shall we say? You are our gene- 
rous benefactor, and we are your affectionate, though 
unprofitable servants. In one sense, we are on a level 
with those to whom you show charity in the streets: 
we can do nothing but pray for you, your dear partner, 
and your's. You kindly received us for Christ's sake ; 
may God receive you freely for his sake also! You 



LIFE OF FLETCHER. 237 

have borne with our infirmities, the Lord bear with 
your'salso! You have let your servant serve us; — the 
Lord give all his servants and his angels charge con- 
cerning you, that you hurt not your foot against a stone, 
and may be helped out of every difficulty ! You have 
given us a most pleasing resting place, and comfortable 
apartment under your roof, and next your own cham- 
ber: — the Lord grant you eternal rest with him in his 
heavenly mansions! May he himself be your habita- 
tion and resting place for ever, and place you and your's 
with his own jewels in the choicest repository of pre- 
cious things ! You have fed us with the richest food : — 
may the giver of every perfect gift fit you for a place 
at his table, and may you rank there with Abraham, 
Isaac, and Jacob! You have given us wines: — may you 
drink, with Christ himself, the fruit of the vine, new 
in your Father's kingdom! You have given us a rich 
provision for the way: — when you cross the flood, the 
deep flood of death, may you find that your heavenly 
Lord has made such a rich provision of faith, righteous- 
ness, hope, and joy, for you, that you may rejoice, tri- 
umph, and sing, while you leave your earthly friends 
to go home! which, by-the-bye, is more than we were 
enabled to do; for instead of singing in our cabins, 
there was very different melody. 

However, we could soon, with grateful, joyful hearts, 
look back from the British to the Irish shore, and greet 
in spirit the dear friends we had left there. The Lord 
bless and increase them in spiritual, and, if best for 
them, in temporal goods also! The Lord crown them 
and their's with loving kindness, and mercies equal to 
the love of our God, and the merits of our Saviour! 



238 



LIFE OF FLETCHER. 



And now, dear sir, what shall I add ? I cannot now 
even see my Bible but through the medium of your 
love, and the token with which it alternately loads my 
pocket and my hand. I cannot even seal a letter with 
a good wafer, but I find a new call to repeat my thanks 
to you. I would begin again, but my scrap of paper is 
full, as well as my heart; and I must spare a line to 
tell you that I had the pleasure of seeing our kind bene- 
factress, Mrs. Smyth, safe at Bristol, with her little 
charge and lady Mary. We beg our thanks to John, 
Mr. and Mrs. Johnson, and all who were kind to us 
for Christ's sake, and for your's. We remain, dear 
sir, your most affectionate and most obliged pensioners 
and servants, I, & M. F. 



Madeley, September 13/A, 1784, 



JAMES IRELAND, ESQ.. 

My Dear Friend, 

Surely the Lord keeps us both in slippery places, 
that we may still set loose to all below. Let us do so 
more and more, and make the best of those days which 
the Lord grants us to finish the work he has given 
us to do. let us fall in with the gracious designs of 
his providence! trim our lamps, gird our loins, and 
prepare to escape to the heavenly shore, as Paul did 
when he saw the leaky ship ready to go to the bottom, 
and made himself ready to swim to land. 

I keep in my centry-box till Providence removes 
me: my situation is quite suited to my little strength; 



LIFE OF FLETCHER. 239 

I may do as much or as little as I please, according to 
my weakness; and I have an advantage which I can 
have nowhere else in such a degree; my little field of 
action is just at my own door, so that if I happen to 
overdo myself, I have but a step from my pulpit to my 
bed, and from my bed to my grave. I wish brother 
Tandy joy about opposition. This must be, and the 
more of it, the more will the word of God prevail. If 
I had a body full of vigour, and a purse full of money, 
I should like well enough to travel about as Mr. Wes- 
ley does, but as Providence does not call me to it, I 
readily submit. The snail does best in its shell: were 
it to aim at galloping like the race horse, it would be 
ridiculous indeed. 1 thank God, my wife, who joins 
me in thanks to you for your kind offer, is quite of my 
mind with respect to the call we have to a sedentary 
life. We are two poor invalids, who, between us, 
make half a labourer. * * * * I. F. 



Madeley, June 20th, 1784. 

MBS. GBEE^WOOD. 

My Dear Friend, 

I shall never forget the mercy which the living and 
the dead have showed me; but the sight of Mr. Green- 
wood in his son, has brought some of my Newington 
scenes fresh to my remembrance, and I beg leave to 
convey my tribute of thanks back by his hands. — 
Thanks! Thanks! What, nothing but words? Here 



240 LIFE OF FLETCHER. 

is my humbling case; I wish to requite your manifold 
kindness, but I cannot; and so I must be satisfied to be 
ever your insolvent debtor. Nature and grace do not 
love it. Proud nature lies uneasy under great obliga- 
tions, and thankful grace would be glad to put some- 
thing in the scale, opposite to that which you have 
filled with so many favours. But what shall I put? I 
wish I could send you all the Bank of England, and all 
the gospel of Christ; but the first is not mine, and the 
second is already your's: so, praying the Lord Jesus 
to make up my deficiencies with you, as he has done 
with his Father, I remain your still unprofitable, and 
still obliged Lazarus, I. F. 



THE END, 



Deacidified using the Bookkeeper process. 
Neutralizing agent: Magnesium Oxide 
Treatment Date: May 2006 

PreservationTechnologies 

A WORLD LEADER IN PAPER PRESERVATION 

1 1 1 Thomson Park Drive 
Cranberry Township, PA 16066 
(724)779-2111 



* 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 




017 527 285 9 



zmJft 



ffi 







HH 

■HI 

• "Li 

ffl 



Ira 




p 




SKI 

■I 




